Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors

And these chieftains, they were all essentially acquaintances of Emperor Taizong of Liang.

They had all seen each other at Wulong Slope two years ago!

At that time, when he was still Lord Qin, Emperor Taizong had left an indelible impression on these Turkic people.

First, he rebuked Jie Li Khan at the base of Wulong Slope for breaking the alliance, and with a firm stance of crossing the trench water, he forced Jie Li Khan to retreat from Wulong Slope; then later, in the dead of night, he rushed through the rain and with an irresistible military force, compelled Jie Li Khan to withdraw his troops.

Back then, Lord Qin had already become a genuine hero among these Turkic people.

Now, Emperor Taizong of Liang exhibited the same behavior as two years ago, facing the Turkic's two-hundred-thousand-strong army alone on horseback.

But the shock he delivered to the Turkic people this time was far greater than before.

For they all knew that the current Lord Qin was not just Lord Qin anymore, but had become the Emperor of the entire Liang Dynasty.

An emperor taking the field lightly? Riding alone to the opposite shore of the river to confront a large army again?

Even in the grasslands, where military might was revered, this was exceedingly rare!

Such courage, as always, was admirable.

Thus, the scene that made Li Hongyun realize "the script is correct" unfolded before him.

The minor chieftains of the various Turkic tribes, those acquaintances who had dealt with each other at Wulong Slope two years ago, began to dismount one by one, paying their respects to Emperor Taizong of Liang, this "Khan" from across the bank.

Even Li Hongyun was somewhat taken aback by this scene.

For he understood very well that such treatment was absolutely reserved for Emperor Taizong alone.

If someone else were to go there, like Emperor Gaozu of Liang, or the Crown Prince, or Prince Qi, to say what he had said, it would probably just make the Turkic people laugh out loud and take it lightly.

And the act of detaining Zhi Shi Si Li would be a firm statement if it was Lord Qin, but in the case of others, it would probably just give the Turkic people a reason to start a war.

The expression on Jie Li Khan's face was clearly a bit unsightly.

For every appearance of Emperor Taizong seemed like a step on his face.

By rights, he was at least on an equal footing with Emperor Taizong in status, if not higher. After all, when Emperor Gaozu of Liang had risen in rebellion, he had sought the support of the Turkic people and sworn fealty.

Emperor Gaozu of Liang had suffered no small amount of humiliation from the Turkic people, so when Jie Li Khan was captured and brought back to Chang'an to be made a dancing king three years later, Emperor Gaozu was particularly pleased, and the father-son relationship that had been completely broken due to the Xuanwu Gate Incident was mended again.

In the eyes of Jie Li Khan, it was only natural for the Turkic people to press down on the Liang Dynasty.

Moreover, the Liang Dynasty had just experienced an internal turmoil, with Emperor Taizong seizing power, while the Turkic people were in their heyday.

Yet once again, as he had done two years before, Emperor Taizong with greater courage than his own, let his home field advantage slip away.

Jie Li Khan could even sense that some of the minor chieftains under him greatly admired Lord Qin, and this admiration was even on the verge of surpassing their loyalty to him...

As a Khan, it was a bit hard to save face.

And at that moment, dust rose in the distance.

The Liang Army's iron cavalry had arrived!

The elite Black Armor Army pressed forward like dark clouds, neatly reining in their bridles behind Lord Qin.

The warhorses at the front simultaneously raised their legs and neighed, their movements uniform.

And the cavalry in the rear also came to a swift halt, maintaining just the right gap from the front rows, neither too crowded nor too loose.

These cavalrymen, standing behind Lord Qin like mountains, were as imposing as on that rainy night two years ago.

How powerful an army was could be seen from its marching demeanor.

Neat marching indicated that the army was well-disciplined, highly organized and high in morale. And such an army would certainly not lack in combat capability.

The Turkic people had had early experience with the combat prowess of the Liang Army.

In particular, the sight of the Liang cavalry rushing through the rain that rainy night two years ago made a profound impression on the Turkic people.

At this moment, Jie Li Khan felt again the mountainous pressure he had felt two years before.

Because, one after another, several things had exceeded his expectations, making him more prone to forced errors.

Zhi Shi Si Li, who had gone to probe, had haughtily headed for Chang'an, where he was supposed to show off a little, then come back with news that the other side wanted peace, but now he had been directly detained by the Liang Dynasty;

Lord Qin had only just become Emperor, and the situation in the court should be unstable, with no reason for him to venture out so readily, yet he had charged over without any hesitation just as he had two years before;

Then, with the sudden arrival of the Liang Army, just by deploying troops across the river, a clear stance had already been made: the capital was anything but empty, and the Liang Army was prepared for a major battle.

So, Jie Li Khan was stunned again.

Just like two years ago, he had to make a crucial decision in a very short span of time.

If it was in the Qi Dynasty, then the initiative of a siege at the city's base was in the hands of the North.

For the enemy's large army was already at the city's gates, shouldn't they be the ones to own the initiative in negotiations?

But in the Liang Dynasty, even at a siege at the city's base, the initiative was still in the hands of the Central Plains dynasty; that was the difference.

Jie Li Khan looked at the Liang Army on the opposite bank and fell into silence once more.

Negotiation, once again, became his only option.