In fact, at the beginning of the first year of Zhengxing, Pugu Huaien did meet Yi Dijian.

That morning, he was shirtless and asked the doctor to check the miliary pus on his back.

"The gangrene is dark in color and the pus is clear and thin. Are there any other abnormalities?"

"Long-spirited." After Pugu Huai'en finished speaking, he added in a muffled voice: "Thirsty, irritable, constipated and red."

"Please open your mouth."

"ah."

"Jieshuai's tongue is pale and has a thin white coating, and his pulse is rapid but weak. It is indeed back gangrene."

Pugu Huaien was taken aback and asked quickly: "Then how long can I live?"

"Don't worry, Jieshuai. The scabies have just started to appear. You can take good care of it after I prescribe the medicine."

Having said that, Pugu Huaien knew that back gangrene was a terminal disease that could not be avoided by many ministers and generals, so he could not help but feel worried. However, no matter how he asked questions, the doctor only told him to feel at ease.

At this time, Pu Gujun rushed back from the city to see him. Pu Guhuaien quickly put on his clothes and told the doctor not to let anyone know that he had gangrene on his back.

Pugu Jian stepped back as soon as he entered, and mysteriously leaned into Pugu Huai'en's ear, whispering: "Grandpa, I saw my sister-in-law, and he wants to see you."

"Sister-in-law?" Pugu Huai'en pointed to the north and said, "What do you mean?"

"Yes." Pu Gujun nodded quickly, "He wants to see grandpa."

Both father and son knew that Xue Bai once captured Ye Hu and released him back to Uihe, so he must have supported Ye Hu in the civil strife in Uihe. On the other hand, Xue Bai continued to provoke the Tang Dynasty.

If the court finds out about your private contact with Echiken at this time, it will be a serious crime.

But Pugu Huai'en thought about it a lot and went to Yinshan to meet Yi Dijian in person.

Yi Dijian is about the same age as Xue Bai. He is less than thirty years old. He has a strong body, his eyes are as sharp as a goshawk on the grassland, and he carries a sense of arrogance.

He came with his wife, first to reunite Pugu Huai'en and his daughter, and then he said openly that he wanted to be the Khan of Huihe, and then the Pugu family would be his ktun.

Afterwards, the father-in-law and his father-in-law rode horses for a while on the grassland and had a long talk.

Yi Dijian was very clear about Xue Bai's intention to split Huihe. He knew that it was Xue Bai who had warned Ye Hu to be careful about him.

He had originally made a plan to get rid of Ye Hu, but in the end he fell short and made a big enemy. He couldn't bear to allow a Tang emperor who was hostile to him to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor.

In addition, he now urgently needs money to reward his tribesmen, appease their restless hearts, and consolidate his position.

Therefore, he hoped that Pugu Huai'en could attack Chang'an with him, and then his children of gold and silk would belong to him, and the city of Chang'an would belong to Pugu Huai'en, which would be the best of both worlds.

The words of persuasion were also very moving. Pugu Huai'en devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Li family, but unfortunately he was not trusted by the current Tang lord, so it was better to discuss important matters with his son-in-law.

After thinking for a long time, Pugu Huaien frowned and relaxed several times. Finally, he thought of the gangrene on his back and finally shook his head.

"With Guo Ziyi in charge, I'm afraid that if I join the army, Shuofang's army will be reduced by half."

He didn't refuse it completely, he just asked Yi Dijian to get rid of Ye Hu first, and then he would wait for Guo Ziyi to die, and then discuss the big plan.

After all, nothing could be discussed during this meeting. After parting, Yi Dijian ordered to his men: "Let's go east and capture Fan Yang, who is east of the river."

"Khan, why don't you grab the ones who are close and run so far away?"

"Give my husband some face and make Lord Tang suspicious of him." Yi Dijian sneered, looked at the back of Pugu Huai'en as he rode away, and said, "Did you see it? Behind my husband's head is

There is something rebellious about it.”

…

After returning to Lingwu from Shuxiancheng, Pugu Huaien's attitude towards Pugu Jian was different.

He changed from his usual harshness, and would sometimes express a few words of emotion in front of Pu Gujian.

"More than forty people from my Pugu family died fighting for the Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, I didn't even get the merit of being a dragon. Several of your brothers have died. If I am no longer here, how will you be able to support this family?"

Industry?"

Pu Gujuan said: "My child thinks that my father is devoted to the country and has never thought about his family."

"Idiot, if it wasn't for the Pugu clan, why would I fight so hard?"

"If that's the case, why didn't grandpa agree to my sister-in-law?"

"I have my own reasons."

Pugu Huai'en had a straight face and answered his son's question with a straight-to-the-point attitude. But after a while, he decided to tell the truth.

"I have fought with the current Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and I am scared of being beaten by him."

After hearing these words, Pugu Jian was stunned for a moment, then he gradually clenched his fists and said loudly: "How can a Pugu family man give up after losing once?"

"Crack!"

Pugu Huaien gave him a slap in the face and said, "I'll give you a few days to look good, and then you'll go crazy?!"

This slap restored his majesty. He thought about the gangrene on his back, pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Don't worry, I will find a good way out for the Pugu family to be as brothers with the country."

At first, Pu Gujuan didn't know what the way out was, until Du Wulang came to Lingwu.

~~

"Your Majesty asked me to ask Commander-in-Chief whether he can trust you?"

Facing Pugu Huai'en's murderous intent, Du Wulang was trembling inside but pretending to be calm on his face.

Pugu Huai'en glared and said in a deep voice: "I have given up my family and career for many years to serve the Tang Dynasty through life and death, and to carry out the battle. My descendants and clansmen died in battle without any calculation, so now your majesty doubts me?!"

Du Wulang was taken aback and quickly stood up and said: "Serious words, serious words, of course Your Majesty will not have any doubts about Commander-in-Chief."

"If this is the case, I would like to ask your Majesty to appoint the dog son Pu Gujuan as the rear guard of Shuofang's army."

"What?"

Du Wulang knew that Pugu Huai'en was straightforward, but he didn't expect him to be so straightforward and put forward the conditions directly.

But this condition was definitely not something he could easily accept for Xue Bai.

After Pugu Jian was retained by the Shuofang Army, it was equivalent to the fact that once Pugu Huai'en died, Pugu Jian would succeed him as the military envoy of the Shuofang Army.

Jieduzhi originally controlled all the power of one party and was equivalent to the princes of that party. If he continues to be hereditary, how is it different from sealing off the territory and splitting the land?

"If your majesty trusts me, please grant me the title of servant Gujuan as a rear guard for Shuofang's army." Pugu Huai'en faced Dongfang and repeated the salute to show his firm attitude, "If so, I feel your majesty's profound kindness, and I will definitely

I will die in return!"

If Xue Bai can agree, he really intends to die for Xue Bai.

Just like what he did for Li Heng and his son in the past, he went into battle to kill the enemy personally and sacrificed his loved ones, even if he killed his own son who surrendered to the enemy, no matter what.

As long as the king can give him the purest trust, he will repay the king with the most ardent loyalty.

"I know that Your Majesty has great ambitions to regain Hexi, contact the Western Regions, march to Qinghai, defeat Tubo, conquer Uighurs, and conquer all nations. For this reason, I am willing to fight on the battlefield and die even if I die. However, in these years, I have been fighting for the Tang Dynasty, and my tribe has

The casualties are heavy and the descendants are withered. If we can solve our worries, I will have nothing to ask for!"

"Jie Shuai, let's talk about this..."

Du Wulang originally wanted to say that he couldn't make the decision and had to report it to Chang'an. But then he thought about it and felt that he had to bear with it first and buy some time for Xue Bai.

"I have to think about how to report it to His Majesty. I... came all the way and have a severe headache. I can't think about such a big thing at the moment."

After stammering his excuses, Du Wulang said goodbye to Pugu Huai'en.

When he left this commander's residence, he couldn't help but complain in his heart. He secretly thought that it was over now. This trip here had actually forced Pugu Huai'en to rebel.

Suddenly, he was hit and fell to the ground.

"Ah, is Mr. Lang okay?!"

Du Wulang looked up and saw a sweaty soldier coming forward to help him up.

"It's okay, why are you running so fast?"

The soldier was originally worried that he had bumped into a distinguished person, and was frightened. Seeing that this man was easy to talk to, he felt much relieved. He carefully patted Du Wulang's body clean, saluted, and hurried away again.

"Hey, you..."

Du Wulang didn't know what urgent military situation could make him so anxious, so he turned back and glanced at the soldier tag on his body, which had his regiment and name on it.

In a hurry, I only saw the word "six".

But he said that the soldier hurried into the commander's house and reported a major event to Pugu Huai'en.

"Commander Jie, someone from the Beiting Protectorate has arrived!"

"Whose?" Pugu Huai'en was surprised, thinking that he had heard something wrong.

"It's Cao Lingzhong who serves under Yang Zhilie after staying in Beiting."

"How come?"

Pugu Huai'en thought for a while and ordered the group to be brought here so that he could receive them in person.

While waiting, he arranged a banquet and served good wine and food.

"The last general will meet Pugujie Commander!"

Cao Lingzhong walked into the hall. As soon as he saw Pu Guhuaien, his face showed reverence and his expression was excited.
To be continued...