Chapter 392

Sure enough, they discovered clues.

Those Qiang cavalry seemed to be following them.

Liangzhou was desolate, and Qiang tribes often plundered passing merchant teams and commoners.

This was already the norm.

But Li Jue did not expect that even a team like theirs would have Qiang tribes daring to provoke them.

The team flew the flag of Duan Yu, the Hanyang Commandery Administrator, and also included the flag of the Colonel-Protector of the Xiongnu, and was protected by over a thousand cavalry.

Generally speaking, no small group of Qiang cavalry would dare to have designs on such a team.

Therefore, when Li Jue informed Jia Xu of this matter.

Jia Xu deduced that if these cavalry really had designs on them.

Then it absolutely could not be a small Qiang tribe.

It was highly likely to be some powerful tribes.

In the following days, Jia Xu ordered Li Jue and Guo Si in the front, and Wang Fang and Li Meng in the rear, to pay attention at all times.

Now, several days had passed since the first discovery of the Qiang tribe's movements.

Since those Qiang tribes were still following, it meant they must be plotting something.

Jia Xu rubbed his brow and looked at Li Jue, asking: "Ahead is Shehu Valley, right?"

Li Jue nodded and said yes: "Ahead is Shehu Valley. It is precisely because of this that I ordered a stop to advancing."

"Should we... report this matter to the Eldest Miss and Lady Ren?" Li Jue asked.

Jia Xu raised his hand to stop him.

"Not for now."

"Both ladies are pregnant. Even if they knew, it would be of no help, and I fear it would cause worry and hurt the fetus."

Jia Xu's gaze looked toward the mountains in the distance ahead.

Shehu Valley.

The name is as the place is.

This is a long and narrow valley.

And there is no way to bypass it.

In the middle of Shehu Valley is the passage of the Wei River valley, and on both sides are the Long Mountains.

"In the first year of Yongchu, General of Chariots and Cavalry Deng Zhi led troops into Liangzhou to quell the Qiang rebellion, and it was here that he was routed by the Zhong Qiang and Dianling tribes, and tens of thousands of people were buried here."

Jia Xu said with a solemn face: "If it is really the nearby tribes who want to have designs on us, they will inevitably take action here."

"Is there any reply from Lintao yet?"

"And have the people sent to Jixian returned yet?" Jia Xu asked.

Li Jue shook his head to indicate no.

Trouble.

Jia Xu secretly said it was not good in his heart.

"Then... shall we take a detour?" Li Jue asked tentatively: "Or retreat to Wangyuan County, and then wait for the General to return?"

Jia Xu shook his head and said: "There are half Qiang tribes in Wangyuan County, especially the Dianling, Zhong Qiang, and Canlang tribes."

"If we are in the city, that is equivalent to catching a turtle in a jar."

"Since they have long planned to intercept us, they will naturally have preparations in Wangyuan County. This is why I did not stay in Wangyuan County," Jia Xu said.

Li Jue gritted his teeth and said with a face full of anger: "These guys are too bold."

"They actually dare to intercept the General's team."

"Are they not afraid of the General's retaliation upon his return?"

Jia Xu shook his head and said: "It is very clear that they are aiming for the General."

"Now the court is in chaos, and the imperial court is simply unable to care about Liangzhou. Since the beginning of this year, the Qiang tribes have had constant friction."

"This is just a preliminary test of the imperial court."

"And the General is famous, and now he is taking office in Hanyang Commandery, so the tribes must have heard of the General's prestige."

"This should be a warning to the General; they just want to make the General retreat in the face of difficulties."

"I fear..."

Jia Xu narrowed his eyes and said: "There must be some major event being plotted among the Qiang tribes, and they are afraid that the General's arrival in Hanyang Commandery will have an impact."

"So they took action in advance."

"Ah?" Li Jue widened his eyes in shock.

Li Jue and others had been in Liangzhou for many years.

They knew much more about Liangzhou affairs than the generals in the Central Plains.

The frequent rebellions of the Liangzhou Qiang tribes were no longer a strange thing.

The so-called major event Jia Xu spoke of was probably related to the rebellion.

"Then what shall we do now?" Li Jue frowned and said: "Isn't this equivalent to being in a dilemma?"

Yes.

Ahead is the dangerous Shehu Valley, an excellent place for an ambush.

As long as you enter Shehu Valley, and block the front and back, that is a dead end.

But you cannot go back to Wangyuan County behind you. Once they retreat, or show signs of having discovered it, the Qiang tribes will inevitably take action in advance.

Jia Xu pursed his lips.

The current situation is a bit of a dilemma.

However, at this moment, a cavalryman came at full speed.

"Report, inform the General, Colonel Zhang Ji has sent someone to deliver a letter."

Jia Xu and Li Jue's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

Subsequently, a young man holding a spear on horseback walked out from behind the soldier.

The young man flipped off his horse, then came to Li Jue and Jia Xu, cupped his hands and said: "General Li, I am Zhang Xiu, the nephew of my uncle Zhang Ji, and I have been ordered to deliver a letter to General Li." ===== CHAPTER 394 =====