The grass in the factory should be plucked

Chapter 510: Volcano (Part )

The horse's hooves slowed down and the woman pulled the reins. The sunlight penetrated the dust and mist and fell on her face. Half of her face was immersed in golden light and the other half was hidden in shadow. In the eyes of everyone, she was like a goddess descending to the earth. Her breathtaking beauty silenced the onlookers.

The Khan of Turpan and his entourage were even more stunned.

No wonder Duke Dingguo looked down on the five princesses. With such a goddess-like wife, how could any mediocre woman from this mortal world be in his eyes?

"Welcome Your Majesty!"

Wei Zhuang led the soldiers in bowing and saluting.

The Khan of Turpan and others quickly knelt down.

The people nearby woke up as if from a dream, knelt down together, and shouted:

"Welcome to Madam Divine Lord!"

"The goddess has arrived!"

"Please bless me, goddess!"

……

Although Jiang Li could not understand Uighur, she could feel the enthusiasm of the people, and a smile appeared on her face.

Xie Changan dismounted first and extended his hand to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li took his hand, jumped off the horse, and said with a smile: "No need to be polite."

Wei Zhuang stepped forward, bowed and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you have worked hard on the journey."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "General Wei and the other soldiers of the Western Expedition Army have made such an incredible feat, and their hard work and contributions are great."

Wei Zhuang said with a guilty look on his face: "It's all thanks to the efforts of the Duke and the Prince. I dare not take any credit for it!"

If Duke Dingguo had not taken Sayyid's head single-handedly, and if the Tianji Camp and Longmen Military Industry under Prince Jing'an had not made remarkable achievements, how could this battle have been won as easily as a child's play?

The army that is heading west did not have to fight a hard battle at all. Once the Longmen military industry's firearms came out, the enemy troops defending the city had already thrown away their weapons and fled in a panic. The soldiers then just had to capture prisoners. This battle was too easy!

Even more outrageous was the elusive Tianji Camp. Without even seeing their shadow, they captured the Gaochang Royal City without a fight. Even the Khan of Turpan had to surrender!

Jiang Li smiled and said, "General Wei, there is no need to underestimate yourself. Without the cooperation of the soldiers of the Western Expedition Army, the Tianji Camp and Longmen Military Industry alone would not be able to achieve anything."

This is true. The Tianjiying and Longmen Military Industry can only play a supporting role in the war. The main army is still needed to charge into battle and capture cities.

Wei Zhuang felt relieved. No wonder Princess Jing'an, despite being a young woman, could become the emperor's most loyal minister. Look at her knowledge and bearing. Is it possible for ordinary people to compare with her?

After the two men exchanged pleasantries, Wei Zhuang allowed the surrendered minister from Turpan to come forward and meet King Jing'an.

Facing the goddess-like Queen, the Khan of Turpan could not help but feel his knees weaken and fell to his knees: "Goddess, please accept our worship!"

After the general who was proficient in Uighur language "simultaneously interpreted", Jiang Li pursed his lips and smiled: "No need to be polite."

After the Western Expedition Army occupied Gaochang City, the royal palace became its base camp. The Khan of Turpan, his concubines, princes and princesses were all imprisoned in a nobleman's house.

Upon learning that Prince Jing'an was coming to announce the decree, Wei Zhuang ordered his men to clean up the best palace for Prince Jing'an and Duke Dingguo to stay.

Jiang Li and Xie Changan came to the palace surrounded by the crowd.

Jiang Li looked at the Western-style decoration in the hall with great interest. There was a high platform in the hall with a wide Hu bed on it. The curtains were made of gold brocade and decorated with agate beads.

The columns on both sides are carved with various birds and animals, the niches are inlaid with turquoise, and the floor is covered with thick wool felt carpets. The entire palace is full of gorgeous exotic style.

At this moment, her mind moved, and Bai Xian came!

Jiang Li dismissed everyone, and saw the shadow of Old Lady Bai emerging from the air.

Bai Xian bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings to the two Immortal Lords."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Bai Xian!"

Bai Xian smiled and said, "It's not hard, it's not hard. I am honored to be able to help the two immortals."

Jiang Li didn't bother to be polite with her and directly told her the follow-up arrangements.

"Please ask Bai Xian to send two small teams, one to the Flaming Mountain and one to the Jingjue Ancient City in the Taraman Desert. They can just wait outside and don't need to go deeper."

"Yes, I obey!"

The shadow of Old Lady Bai disappeared into the air again.

Xie Changan stretched out his hand and took Jiang Li into his arms, smiling and saying, "The Flame Mountain is just north of Gaochang City, and it only takes half an hour to get there by horseback. The Ancient City of Jingjue is about 2,000 miles away from here, and it will take four or five days by fast horse. Why not go after the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Jiang Li leaned into his arms and said lazily, "Okay, anyway, the Tianji Camp is on the right track, so I don't have to do it myself. It's a good opportunity to spend a few more days in the Western Regions."

She should play for a while longer before her belly becomes obvious, otherwise Aunt Lian will not let her go out when her belly gets bigger.

"Are you sleepy? Have lunch before going to sleep."

"it is good."

Xie Changan then ordered the guards guarding outside to get lunch.

Wei Zhuang found two maids who could speak the Great Chu dialect to serve Jiang Li.

The next morning, Jiang Li changed into the crown and robes of a prince, and accompanied by Xie Changan and Wei Zhuang, he came to the former Turpan royal court.

The Khan of Turpan, all his civil and military officials, his empress, his concubines, his princes and his princesses all knelt on the ground trembling with fear.

The Khan looked at the princess standing in front of the jade steps of the throne. The jade beads hanging from the seven-tassel crown blocked her beautiful face. On her black robe and purple skirt, four-clawed golden dragons were embroidered with gold thread, and mountain and river patterns were faintly visible between her sleeves.

Jiang Li, wearing the crown and robes of a prince, exudes a kind of majesty that makes people unconsciously ignore her identity as a woman.

The Khan of Turpan knelt on the ground, presented a surrender letter with both hands, and said in a trembling voice: "The Khanate of Turpan is willing to surrender to the Great Chu, become the people of the Great Chu, and be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Chu for generations."

Wei Zhuang stepped forward and solemnly took the letter of surrender, then presented it to Jiang Li.

Jiang Li then read out the imperial edict of the Emperor of Great Chu, in which the Turpan Khanate was incorporated into the Great Chu Dynasty and named Xichang Prefecture.

In addition to the prefect, Xichang Prefecture also established the Protectorate of the Western Regions. Wei Zhuang, the former General Pingxi, was given the title of Protector-General of the Western Regions and was responsible for the military and political affairs of Xichang Prefecture and the countries in the Western Regions.

In the future, the Western Regions will be unified, and the Western Regions Protectorate will govern all the prefectures and counties in the Western Regions.

Wei Zhuang was very excited. The emperor was handing over the entire Western Regions to him for management!

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Wei Zhuangding will do his best to serve you and live up to your expectations!"

Jiang Li took out another imperial edict, stating that the former Great Khan of Turpan, Ma Su, had voluntarily surrendered and could redeem his sins, so he was specially appointed the Prince of Xichang County, with the title of hereditary king.

The newly-appointed Prince of Xichang, Ma Su, respectfully took the golden book and seal. From then on, the Turpan Khanate was officially incorporated into the territory of Da Chu.

Ma Su escaped the disaster, and with mixed feelings, he fell to the ground and shouted, "Long live the emperor!"

After finishing his business, Jiang Li asked Wei Zhuang to set up the organization of the Western Regions Protectorate as soon as possible. After the officials sent by the court arrived, the newly established Xichang Prefecture would be able to operate normally.

She and Xie Chang'an led a team of personal soldiers and galloped towards the Flaming Mountain on horseback.

The Huoyan Mountain stretches across the northern edge of the Turpan Basin, stretching for more than 200 miles and about ten kilometers wide, like a giant red dragon entrenched in the basin.

Jiang Li was riding on a horse, looking from afar, he saw that the mountain was all red, the exposed rock layers were barren of grass, and the texture of the mountain with gullies and ravines looked like solidified flames surging and rolling.

Under the direct sunlight, the rocks reflected a blazing red light, as if the whole mountain was burning.

She is connected to Bai Xian through a contract.

"Bai Xian, have you reached the Flame Mountain?"

Bai Xian quickly replied: "Little Fairy, we arrived yesterday. The temperature here is too high, so we are all on the periphery and dare not go deep into the hinterland."

Jiang Li asked: "Is there natural fire there?"

Bai Xian said: "We dare not go deeper, but we can vaguely see that there is a blazing fire in the hinterland, stretching for hundreds of miles."

She was not without worry. "Little fairy, are you and the Immortal Lord going to enter the Flame Mountain? I see that the flames are so fierce that even a person with skin of copper and bones of iron will be reduced to ashes!"

Jiang Li smiled slightly: "It's okay, let's take a look first. If we really can't go deeper, I won't force it."

Xie Changan also heard the conversation between the two through the Heart Contract. He frowned and said, "Bai Li Lie Yan? Can our consciousness withstand it?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "This is the spiritual plant that the mirror spirit wants to give us. It can't be placed where we can't reach it, right?"

Xie Changan thought so too, and felt relieved. He smiled and said, "There is a hundred miles of flames in the mountains. Why is it so strange?"

Jiang Li chuckled and said, "It just so happens that my master told me the legend of the Flaming Mountain."

Xie Changan asked with great interest: "What did your master say?"

"Legend has it that in the Tushita Palace of Taishang Laojun, there was an eight-trigram furnace for alchemy. The little Taoist boy who was guarding the furnace dozed off and kicked the furnace over. Several pieces of charcoal fell from the sky and landed right here, forming the Flame Mountain."

"This little Taoist boy got into such a big trouble that he was banished to the mortal world and became the landowner of the Flaming Mountain."