Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 375

The wolf pack, organized and methodical, silently followed behind the cavalry. Most of the prisoners could only walk, and the troops moved slowly. Although autumn had arrived, the desert heat remained intense, and the wounded soldiers began to falter.

Chang Yuchun sensed some unrest among the prisoners. He coldly observed the groaning, slow-moving Xiongnu soldiers trudging through the desert. These soldiers had clearly surrendered under duress, and by a great deal of force. The sudden defection of the wolves had fueled their resentment; they believed the Luo army's victory wasn't due to their own strength, but rather the wolves' betrayal and good fortune. The intense heat added to their irritability and fueled their resentment. Of course, the Xiongnu soldiers dared not retaliate yet. They were surrounded by over 100,000 Luo cavalry, their sabers still stained with blood, their wounds from the deaths of their comrades still fresh. The murderous intent on their faces remained, as if they were ready to draw their swords at any moment and return to the brutal hand-to-hand combat of the battlefield. Moreover, there were over 100,000 wolves behind them, swift in their movements and completely unfamiliar with their former Xiongnu "comrades."

Luo Chen awoke at night. The army moved slowly, encamped in the desert, surrounded by towering flames.

"My lord! You're awake!" Yan Qing, who had been by Luo Chen's side constantly, was the first to notice he was awake. Lü Bu and Chang Yuchun also came over, immediately offering him water. Yan Qing fed Luo Chen water from the jug little by little. Luo Chen nodded, gesturing to his subordinates to indicate that he was much better.

Luo Chen drank a bowl of rice porridge and managed to eat a few pieces of meat. His complexion became rosier, and he soon sat up on his own. Yan Qing and the others were relieved; he was just weak from blood loss, but nothing serious.

"Where are we?" Luo Chen asked.

"We should arrive in Wuwei County around tomorrow evening," Yan Qing replied.

"Don't let your guard down just because Zhao Cheng has been defeated by us," Luo Chen reminded him.

"The advance team has already been dispatched and arrived in Wuwei. The message has been relayed back without any problems. In addition, a large number of sentry posts have been set up along the way." Seeing that Luo Chen was still worried, Chang Yuchun quickly reported all the measures taken.

Luo Chen nodded and then fell silent. Chang Yuchun, Lü Bu, and the others wanted to discuss the next steps with Luo Chen, but seeing that he had just woken up and was still weak, they remained silent. Only Luo Chen himself kept his head down and thought silently.

"By the way, why are all of you high-ranking generals here with me? What's the situation with the guard outside... Oh, and what about the prisoners of war? What are you doing with them? These prisoners are quite loyal to the grasslands, otherwise they wouldn't have been chosen as riders for the Wolf Legion. They're not easy to deal with." Luo Chen seemed quite worried about the defenses tonight and specifically asked about the prisoners of war.

"The prisoners of war have been separated and guarded..." Chang Yuchun said. "They are relatively safe. There are about 30,000 prisoners of war. We have arranged about ten large bonfires and sent out about 50,000 people. There are no problems."

Luo Chen pondered for a moment. "What were our casualties in this battle?" he asked, glancing at Lü Bu. "Lü Bu, you go first."

Lu Bu, who was standing to the side, was unusually silent today. When his lord called his name, Lu Bu looked up and replied, "Nearly 30,000 of my troops were killed on the spot, and more than 10,000 were wounded, some seriously and some lightly."

Luo Chen was stunned, not expecting such a large number of casualties. After a long while, he said, "Were they buried? Were their identities confirmed? Why did they return so quickly? Weren't they handled properly?"

Yan Qing said, "Most of the identity tags have been found and handed over to the logistics department. The people were buried together, not mixed with the enemy troops. They were given separate graves with a large stone in front of them. There are words written on them, and we hope that there will be an opportunity to repair them in the future and have the words engraved on them."

Luo Chen nodded slightly, saying nothing more. “Oh, right, Gray Wolf!” Luo Chen called out. The injured gray wolf immediately darted in from outside and ran to Luo Chen's side. “From now on, it can come into the tent. Don't restrict it anymore. Tell the guards,” Luo Chen said, stroking the gray wolf's fur.

"Go and relay the message: tell the wolf pack to go up and watch the prisoners. If there's any mutiny, execute them immediately," Luo Chen ordered. Yan Qing was about to say "Yes," but then he thought, how could he command a wolf? He wasn't like Luo Chen, who seemed to be able to communicate with wolves. Just as he was about to ask, the gray wolf darted away. It turned out Luo Chen was giving it the order. "Tell your men to withdraw. The soldiers are exhausted, and many are wounded; they need plenty of rest," Luo Chen told Yan Qing. Yan Qing then replied "Yes" and went to make the arrangements.

It was midnight, and the air was bitterly cold; the temperature difference between day and night was quite significant. Yan Qing found a blanket and covered Luo Chen with it. Luo Chen (Li Nuo's) was quite weak and soon fell asleep. While he was sound asleep, he heard the voices of several generals, and even the howling of wolves.

"The wolf pack has been dealt with! Send some more cavalry over there, no problem. Don't wake the lord, he needs to rest." It sounded like Yan Qing's voice.

“Only the lord can command the wolf pack! The wolf pack seems to want to bite all these people to death... I don’t even know the specifics right now. The wolf pack isn’t my army, so I don’t know how far it has progressed…” Chang Yuchun’s voice was a little loud and somewhat hurried.

Luo Chen slowly sat up, turning to the side. Upon seeing this, Yan Qing quickly helped Luo Chen up: "My lord, the prisoners of war have mutinied, attempting to break out under cover of night. The wolf pack is currently dealing with them. We don't know the specifics yet."

Seeing Luo Chen get up, the gray wolf beside him jumped around and howled.

Chapter 183 Hun Captives

Luo Chen's expression became focused, as if he could understand the gray wolf's words. After the gray wolf finished whimpering, it obediently lay down on the ground and waited for the next command.

Luo Chen remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

A voice came from outside the door: "Report! Messenger!" "Come in!" Chang Yuchun said immediately. "How's your observation going?" he asked the tall, burly young messenger.

"The wolves are killing everyone who tries to run away!" the messenger shouted as if reciting a textbook. "The prisoners are now running around in panic, and the wolves are slaughtering them relentlessly."

“These wolves are truly brutal…” Chang Yuchun murmured, glancing at Luo Chen, “My lord, what should we do? Are these wolves inherently bloodthirsty…”

Luo Chen simply shook his head: "This is my order. I said, execute anyone who tries to mutiny..." Then, as if deep in thought, he fell silent.

"Continue to observe!" Chang Yuchun had no choice but to order the messenger. The messenger received the order and left.

"Why not just kill them all..." Lu Bu, who had been silent, suddenly said. "These prisoners are difficult to deal with; most of them are die-hards. It's impossible to incorporate them into our army. If we release them, they'll go back to Zhong Ping's side, and they might even become vagrants or terrorists, disrupting the security of Hexi."

943 Chang Yuchun was historically a bloodthirsty man, but he seemed quite shocked by Lü Bu's reaction. He was about to speak, but after thinking for a moment, he seemed to think that Lü Bu's words also made sense, so he remained silent and waited for Luo Chen to make a decision.

Luo Chen remained silent, and even the gray wolf howled a few times, as if urging him on.

“Kill them all,” Luo Chen sighed, finally deciding. Upon hearing the order, the gray wolves immediately rose and left. “Withdraw our riders to avoid friendly fire. The wolf pack can handle this themselves,” Luo Chen said to Chang Yuchun.

"Understood." Since Luo Chen had made his decision, the generals ceased their discussion and simply carried out the order. So many people—he had taken their lives with a single sentence. Luo Chen felt a heavy weight in his heart. He thought of the countless prisoner-of-war massacres throughout history, some for the sake of stability, others because of brutality. For the sake of security in the west, this was the only way. Otherwise, as Lü Bu had said, they would truly become vagrants and exiles. These people were formidable fighters, had lived with wolves for years, and were quite brutal—a truly terrifying prospect for Hexi. Luo Chen felt a pang of sorrow.

Meanwhile, these brutal, ruthless killers were gripped by panic and fear. The prisoners, of course, willingly became the prisoners of the Xiongnu army and plotted their escape under cover of night. A chain reaction ensued, with over ten bonfires blazing as groups of prisoners leaped across them and rushed into the dark wilderness. Logically, with darkness falling and prisoners running in all directions, the Xiongnu soldiers should have been overwhelmed. However, they were guarded by a pack of wolves. Following Luo Chen's orders, anyone who mutinied or fled was to be executed. The wolves unleashed their fury; in the darkness, their vision was superior to the soldiers'. They used the same simple and deadly tactic: finding the throat and biting through it. Large numbers of Xiongnu soldiers fell dead. Perhaps this humiliating death ignited the prisoners' anger, for many fought the wolves bare-handed. Of course, few were as brave as Wu Song, and even Wu Song had a staff. The wolves also far outnumbered the prisoners. The wolf pack suffered minimal losses, while the Xiongnu soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

Upon receiving the order to kill all of Luo Chen's prisoners, the bewildered Luo army cavalrymen who had been watching helplessly retreated to rest. The wolf pack densely surrounded the area and began a swift and deadly slaughter. This ordinary camp became a killing field for tens of thousands of Xiongnu prisoners.

At dawn, the riders saw wisps of smoke rising from the prisoner-of-war camp. Blood had already soaked the soil beneath their feet, eagles, crows, and vultures circled overhead, and emaciated wolves probed from afar. The morning breeze carried a pungent, nauseating stench.

The wolf pack had already lined up, as if nothing had happened. Of course, these domesticated war wolves had undergone rigorous training and were disciplined not to eat human flesh. All they did was quickly kill their victims.

The riders mounted their horses and whipped them into flight from the slaughterhouse. After a night's rest, and with no prisoners of war on foot, the army advanced at high speed, arriving at Wuwei City at noon. The advance party had already opened the city gates, and over 100,000 cavalrymen crowded into the small city.

The group rested here. Luo Chen summoned the leaders of the Great Wolves from the city wall. There were ten alpha wolves in total, mostly with gray and white fur, some even snow-white, and others gray and black. All the alpha wolves were tall and had piercing eyes. Upon seeing Luo Chen, they all lowered their heads, awaiting instructions. Beside Luo Chen was the injured gray wolf. Luo Chen hadn't given it a name, always calling it Gray Wolf, and over time, that seemed to have become its name; calling Gray Wolf would make it respond and rush over.

Luo Chen merely glanced at each of the gray wolves, patted their foreheads, and waved them away. The wolf pack dispersed into small groups near Wuwei County, continuing their activities and foraging.

Two days later, Chang Yuchun led 60,000 cavalry, accompanied by 30,000 large wolves, on a second march. A thousand or so captured soldiers from Wuwei led the way. The capture of the four prefectures of Hexi seemed imminent. Sure enough, victories came one after another; Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang either surrendered voluntarily or opened their gates after fierce attacks. Chang Yuchun fought his way to Yumen Pass. Upon reaching the pass, the desert remained, extremely arid and vast. It was said that a large area ahead was inhabited by the Qiang people. For the first time, the Luo army had opened a new battlefield, bordering the Qiang people in Hexi.

The army rested here for nearly a week. Every day brought the joy of those who survived and the sorrow of those who were seriously wounded or died. The number of graves outside Wuwei City increased. Many horses were now without owners, grazing forlornly in the barren desert under the setting sun.

News arrived during this time that Xu Da had decisively defeated the Xiongnu on the main battlefield. The Xiongnu general Zhong Ting committed suicide. Zhong Ping had personally arrived near the Yinshan Mountains to reorganize the army, and the veteran general Shaha had returned to the forefront as Grand General, responsible for the army's specific command. Sun Yuanhua's artillery had achieved brilliant results.

Luo Chen sat atop the city wall as usual, listening intently as the messenger Xu Da finished reading his report, gazing absently at the setting sun. The famous Tang Dynasty poem, "A lone plume of smoke rises straight in the vast desert," lingered in his mind.

"Sun Yuanhua is promoted to deputy military advisor. His artillery will be named 'Yuanhua Cannon'," Luo Chen calmly issued the order. "Xu Da, consolidate the army, command cautiously, seize the opportunity, and use our weapons to win another victory."

The next steps were also put on the agenda. "Summon Ma Teng and Pang De," Luo Chen said.

Chapter 184 Westward Advance or Withdrawal

The Yellow River flows far up to the white clouds, a lone city stands amidst ten thousand mountains. Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows, for the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass.

—Wang Zhihuan, "Two Poems on Liangzhou, No. 1"

To advance westward or retreat eastward? This was a question that needed immediate attention. Chang Yuchun, stationed at Yumen Pass, sent a report expressing his willingness to lead his troops into the Western Qiang region, then proceed counter-clockwise in a semi-circle, annihilating the Qiang settlements along the way and completely crushing the main force of the Qiang. This would thus end the Qiang scourge that had plagued them for decades.

This was a very tempting proposal. Chang Yuchun had always been invincible, and the Qiang people's scourge had been a problem plaguing the west for many years. Obeying the needs of the overall situation, Ma Teng's troops retreated to Shicheng, accumulating strength over the years, amassing a regular army of over 100,000 and enough grain to sustain them for more than five years. Even so, Ma Teng still maintained a defensive posture as Luo Chen had requested, allowing the Western Qiang to roam freely in Liangzhou. Now, with the formidable fighting power of Chang Yuchun's troops, coupled with the support of the Wolf Legion, this situation could be completely changed in just one month.

"How long have the troops been fighting?" Luo Chen asked, relaying Chang Yuchun's report to Lü Bu and Yan Qing. "From March to November this year, it's been eight months," Yan Qing replied. "If you include the time it took for troops from other regions to arrive on the battlefield, the troops from Yizhou have been there the longest, over ten months already."

Yan Qing understood the meaning behind Luo Chen's question. The army had been fighting for a long time and was already exhausted. Moreover, they were far away on the northern frontier, where conditions were extremely harsh. So many fierce battles had broken out in the continuous fighting. In the most recent battle, tens of thousands were killed and even more were wounded. But... Yan Qing wanted to speak, but he didn't know how to start. This was indeed an excellent opportunity. If they didn't push themselves to the limit and persevere this time, the resolution of the Western Qiang issue might be delayed for many more years. However, Yan Qing also understood that the army needed rest. The Battle of Red Cliffs in the south had already begun, and these matters concerning the fate of the nation were far more important than a small matter like the Western Qiang.

"So... should we still fight the Western Qiang?" Yan Qing asked tentatively. Luo Chen remained silent; he hadn't decided yet. "Let's go for a walk," Luo Chen suggested. Since entering Wuwei, Luo Chen had gone to the city wall morning and evening to watch the sunrise and sunset, basking in the sun. He had even moved his office to the city wall. The city wall of Wuwei was dilapidated and not wide; it could only accommodate three people side by side, not enough for two horses. The battlements were broken, with some bricks already missing. This famous northwestern fortress of the Western Han Dynasty was now beyond repair due to the current strife in the Central Plains. But sitting on these ancient, gray-black bricks, Luo Chen felt a unique comfort. The army had rested here for a week, and Luo Chen hadn't inquired about any specific matters in Wuwei, nor had he checked on the soldiers, after all, he himself was injured.

Luo Chen descended the city wall and could see that the city was much more crowded. Many soldiers were sunbathing or chatting on street corners. Gambling was strictly prohibited in Luo Chen's army. Although even professional armies were not allowed to engage in such recreational activities, this was quite unique among armies at the time.

“My lord…you are feeling better…” The soldiers looked up, stood up, and surged to both sides of the street to watch their leader walk slowly by.

Looking at the soldiers on both sides, Luo Chen could describe them in two words: ragged and emaciated.

"It's quite cold now, especially at night. Have the soldiers received their autumn and winter gear?" Luo Chen turned to Yan Qing and asked. Yan Qing, the head steward, clearly hadn't expected Luo Chen to ask this question so suddenly. He lowered his head and replied, "They're rushing to make it at the rear. We're too far away, and our supply lines are fragile. It'll probably take some more time..."

Luo Chen didn't answer, but turned to a soldier on the street. The soldier immediately knelt down when he saw Luo Chen approaching. Luo Chen quickly helped him up. The soldier was quite tall, with a sallow complexion and wounds on his arms. "Is there enough food every day?" Luo Chen asked.

"Enough!" the soldier immediately stood at attention and answered loudly.

"Do you have meat? Do you have vegetables?" Luo Chen continued to ask.

"Yes!" the soldier's voice lowered slightly.

"Is there?" Luo Chen glanced at him with sharp eyes and asked again, while the soldier's eyes darted away.

"No...no," the soldier stammered.

Luo Chen turned around and glanced at Yan Qing. In that one glance, Yan Qing's face flushed crimson with shame. "This...this subordinate has failed in his duty."

Luo Chen shook his head. "Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; there's nothing you can do."

Yan Qing knelt down, and the logistics personnel who had rushed over after hearing the news also ran over and knelt down in a panic. The soldiers watched this scene in silence; they knew that because of the logistics, the officers seemed to be held accountable. The soldier who had answered hurriedly knelt down again: "The logistics department has done everything in its power; please forgive us, my lord!" he said, prostrating himself. The soldiers followed suit and knelt down in unison.

· Requesting 0 flowers · ·

Luo Chen sat down silently on the dilapidated bluestone slabs of the ancient city. "Get up, all of you, get up," Luo Chen sighed.

"You've worked hard, riders! Soldiers of Zhongyuan!" Luo Chen raised his voice. "It's been so long! You should have rested long ago! You should have gone home long ago!"

No one spoke. According to the military system, this indeed exceeded the soldiers' rotation time. Even for professional Guanzhong cavalry, such a long period of high-intensity continuous combat was extremely rare. In the past few months, they had undertaken the longest and most arduous desert march, encountered the most formidable and terrifying enemies, and fought directly against death. They had engaged in the most brutal hand-to-hand combat, the most devastating battle the Guanzhong cavalry had ever suffered in a solo operation.

. ...... .......

Luo Chen stood up: "Orders! First, Chang Yuchun's troops are to withdraw immediately. The Wolf Legion will remain to garrison Yumen Pass. Second, immediately draft an order for Zhuge Liang to oversee the state, and organize 50,000 cavalry from the Guanzhong military system to immediately march north and take over the defense of Hexi. Third, draft an order for Ma Teng, that he does not need to come, and order Pang De to bring 50,000 cavalry to serve as the commander-in-chief of the Hexi defense. The four counties of Hexi, including Yumen Pass, will all be assigned to Liangzhou, with Ma Teng as the highest military and political official."

The reason Luo Chen didn't summon Ma Teng to discuss the matter was clearly because he had already made his own decision. That was, his elite cavalry force of over 100,000 men from Guanzhong was to be immediately withdrawn. Yan Qing and Lü Bu immediately understood; the soldiers were still pondering this, and it seemed many troops had been transferred to Hexi.

"Soldiers! I hereby announce that we must immediately organize a withdrawal! There is no need to return to Shuofang; we must head directly south to Guanzhong for rest and reorganization!"

The soldiers all looked up, momentarily thinking they had misheard. Could it be... that their war was over?! They no longer needed to fight the Xiongnu?! They could just go back and rest?!

The calls echoed throughout the dilapidated, desolate desert town.

Chapter 185 General Ma Teng

Upon receiving the order, Ma Teng, along with Pang De, rushed day and night to Wuwei County. According to the battle report, Luo Chen had repeatedly and thoroughly defeated the Xiongnu army in Hexi, and Chang Yuchun's westward advance was unstoppable, reaching directly to Yumen Pass. Ma Teng happily held a banquet to celebrate. Receiving the order for the two to arrive in Wuwei County as soon as possible, Ma Teng became even more excited. Did this mean that Luo Chen was preparing to take action against the Qiang people? He knew that Hexi was home to over 100,000 of Luo Chen's most elite cavalry, plus the mysterious Steppe Wolf Legion; sweeping through the Western Qiang should be no problem. Ma Teng sensed that his long-suppressed feelings were finally about to be resolved; he wanted to personally participate in eliminating the rampant Qiang people in Liangzhou!

Ma Teng didn't rest for a moment, eager to reach Wuwei as quickly as possible. He and Pang De, along with a dozen or so guards, mounted their horses and galloped at breakneck speed. They even ate dry rations on the bumpy ride. When they were really tired, they would simply lie down under their horses' bellies for a short nap. On the third day, Ma Teng, Pang De, and their guards, their eyes dark with fatigue, were galloping wildly when a group of riders in the distance caught their attention. Although the area from Shicheng to Wuwei was within the Great Wall, Xiongnu and Qiang people still roamed freely. The Qiang, in particular, were especially arrogant before Luo Chen's army advanced into Hexi, practically believing it to be their territory. After news of Luo Chen's defeat of the Xiongnu wolf army arrived, the number of Qiang people active in the area greatly decreased. One could imagine that those people were extremely nervous, preparing for battle with gritted teeth.

Ma Teng drew his crossbow from his waist, and the guards prepared themselves. The enemy had clearly spotted them as well, slowing their pace slightly and drawing their weapons.

“Look at our men, look at their armor,” Pound said from the side. Indeed, judging from the armor, they were dressed as the Luo army. And judging from the red tassels on their helmets, if it wasn't a trick, then this group of men were Luo army messengers. The other side obviously also recognized their Luo army Ma Teng's attire, lowered their bows and crossbows, and rushed over. The two groups of men thus met.

This wasn't a battle report being received in the military camp, so Ma Teng was somewhat wary. However, the messenger seemed to recognize Ma Teng immediately, dismounting and bowing respectfully: "General Ma Teng, Lord Luo Chen has ordered us to deliver this urgently." He then handed over the order. Ma Teng took the document; the first line contained only a few simple words, yet they struck him like a thunderbolt: "Our troops have decided to retreat south to Guanzhong. Ma Teng need not proceed to Wuwei County. Pang De is appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Hexi Defense."

Ma Teng was a little dazed. They were withdrawing already? The Qiang people weren't fighting anymore? He mechanically read on: First, due to the prolonged battle, the more than 100,000 cavalrymen originally stationed in Guanzhong decided to retreat south to Guanzhong for rest and reorganization. Second, Pang De was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Hexi Defense, with 50,000 cavalrymen transferred from Shicheng to take up the post. At the same time, 50,000 soldiers and cavalrymen from Guanzhong were transferred to Hexi and placed under Pang De's command. Third, Hexi was incorporated into Liangzhou, with Ma Teng as the highest military and political official. Fourth, Ma Teng and Pang De could, at their discretion, take the initiative to fight against the Western Qiang, but they had to ensure the defense and security of Hexi, Yumen Pass, and Shicheng.

These meticulous arrangements undoubtedly emphasize one fact: Luo Chen has made up his mind to transfer his elite troops to Guanzhong for rest and reorganization. He won't even return to Shuofang. At the same time, Luo Chen has given Ma Teng an additional 50,000 troops and entrusted him with the vast Hexi region, instructing him to guard it well.

The piece of paper slipped from Ma Teng's stiff hand. Ma Teng silently dismounted and sat down on the sparse grass. Pound dismounted, picked up the order, read it, and silently sat down beside Ma Teng: "We'll have to endure for a few more years," Pound said solemnly.

"How many more years do I have left to live?" Ma Teng gave a bitter smile.

No one answered. The guards, and even a few messengers, stood silently in a circle, unsure how to respond to the white-haired old general.

“Keep going.” Ma Teng struggled to his feet. “Keep going,” he repeated. “Our lord will definitely walk along the Great Wall and then head south to the Qin Chuan area. If we keep going, we’ll reach the Great Wall, and then head west along it. We’ll surely encounter our lord’s army.” Ma Teng said desperately. “I want to tell our lord this myself.”

"General..." Pang De was somewhat surprised. Clearly, Princess Luo Chen had made up her mind, yet Ma Teng remained unwilling. Only a veteran general like Ma Teng, with his seniority, would dare to act this way.

"By the way! Young men," Ma Teng said to several messengers. "Our lord has ordered us to mobilize 50,000 troops. Please go back and tell them to order each of the five garrison camps (camps one through five) to select 10,000 elite cavalrymen and set off immediately to Hexi to await orders." As he spoke, he took out a piece of cloth, dripped a few drops of water from a water jug ​​onto a brush, wrote several large characters: "Mobilize troops to Hexi," then signed his name and handed it to the messengers.

The messengers were clearly in a dilemma. Their orders were to see Ma Teng and give him the latest instructions from their lord, Luo Chen. How were they supposed to serve Ma Teng now? But the old general had personally asked them to do this, so it seemed impolite to refuse… The messengers exchanged glances, scratched their heads, took the white cloth, replied, “Yes!” and bowed before mounting their horses and leaving.

While Ma Teng and his men were galloping on horseback, several high-ranking generals from the Xiongnu side were also running at full speed.

After Zhongting's death, Elu led 30,000 remnants of his army to escape, and later gradually gathered another 30,000 to 40,000. They were reorganized into 60,000 men. They hurriedly crossed the Yin Mountains and ran north for several hundred miles in one go.

Two days into the battle, Zhongping received the frontline report, not from Eru, but from someone he had personally sent to overhear. The report stated that the Xiongnu army had collapsed across the board, and their commander was missing. Two days later, a messenger sent by Eru arrived at Zhongping's temporary command post in the Yin Mountains, urging him to immediately retreat north, as there were no more Xiongnu troops in the Yin Mountains area. Regarding the battle situation, the letter contained only these few sentences: "The entire front has collapsed. Please, my lord, retreat to the northern camp. Eru will personally apologize and die without regret."

Zhong Ping was both anxious and panicked, unsure of the exact extent of the losses. Moreover, Yinshan was no longer safe, so Zhong Ping had no choice but to gather all his guards and retreat north.

Two days after Zhong Ping withdrew, the Luojun cavalry, having finished cleaning up the battlefield, crossed the Yinshan Mountains, and the soft heartland of the Xiongnu appeared before them.

Zhao Cheng and Shaha arrived at Oru's camp a few days later. No one had told them where Oru was, yet they found it themselves, demonstrating their exceptional individual combat skills.

Chapter 186 The Defeated General

Oru led his troops on a three-day, relentless march northwards. Finally, exhausted, the army halted. This frantic march not only left the Luo army far behind, but also the Yinshan Mountains. The army entered the heart of the Mongolian Plateau, and the outposts reported that Lake Baikal was now visible.

These past few days, Erru seemed to have lost his sense of light. He seemed to have forgotten day and night. The moment Erru pulled on the reins, his horse collapsed, foaming at the mouth and dying.

Erru rose abruptly from the horse's carcass and silently sat down on the sand-soaked grass beside it. The setting sun on the grassland seemed unusually large, emitting a calm, dim yellow light; night was about to fall, and the autumn wind howled. Erru licked his chapped lips, only then remembering that he hadn't drunk a drop of water or eaten a single bite for days. The rim of his water bottle was blackened, probably from being burned by the fire on the night of the 10th. He silently took a sip; the water tasted somewhat bitter.

Several cavalry commanders approached, having already reorganized their ranks and deployed sentries as per usual practice. The soldiers, now in organized units, began to dismount and rest. Many horses had collapsed during the stampede. Of course, there were also scattered units, their officers having surrendered. Many of these scattered soldiers had only one horse, and thus many fell behind, their horses collapsing along the way. Even more serious was the fact that the scattered soldiers who had broken free from the chaos did not follow the Xiongnu army's marching protocol; that is, they carried only two or three days' worth of rations, or even none at all.

Erru clutched his head, his head throbbing with pain, feeling like it was about to explode. He realized Zhongting was truly dead, and these soldiers could only watch helplessly as they awaited his orders. This bewildering situation and the bleak state of the battle filled Erru with overwhelming helplessness. So many brothers were counting on him, yet who knew that in this situation, even a god couldn't help them?

Erru desperately tried to recall the events of that night, but only the blurry firelight illuminated his mind. He seemed to have forgotten everything, or it was like a nightmare. But the reality was staring him in the face: there was no Zhongting, no 300,000 troops. Only him, Erru, alone. Only these defeated soldiers, their faces still showing signs of shock and disbelief.

"Let the soldiers rest... those without formations, move closer to the organized cavalry units so the sentries can alert them." Three surviving messengers stood beside Erru. Their faces were covered in dust, and they looked quite exhausted. Hearing the order, they responded and went to deliver the message. "Wait a moment..." Erru wearily called them back, "You," he pointed to a relatively robust messenger, "go to the foothills of the Yin Mountains and find the lord's encampment. Make sure you deliver the message, instructing the lord to retreat towards Lake Baikal." Erru hesitated repeatedly, unable to write a single word on the hastily written letter. How could he tell Zhongping this news? He himself couldn't accept this defeat! Moreover, Zhongting was already dead; how could he pass on this news? Erru's hand holding the pen trembled slightly, and he clutched his head, a splitting pain shooting through him.

After much deliberation, Erru wrote only one sentence: "The entire front has collapsed. Please, my lord, proceed to the northern camp. Erru will personally apologize and die without regret." He dared not write the army's location on the letter, fearing it would be lost and the remaining soldiers would be in danger. Erru only verbally told the messenger to head towards Lake Baikal! Towards Lake Baikal!

The messenger was clearly exhausted, as was everyone else, from the long journey. He displayed the tenacity of the Hun soldiers, saying nothing more, took the letter, bowed, and prepared to mount his horse. "You two go too, so we can look after each other," Erru said to his two guards. The two, having been called upon, also silently bowed. The three of them rode off in a cloud of dust.

Having finished arranging the report to Zhong Ping, Erlu leaned against his fallen horse, watching the sun rapidly sink in the west. His mind was blank; Erlu didn't know what to do next. He was utterly exhausted, yet he couldn't close his eyes or sleep. Only a hollow, desolate feeling remained. Was this the end? Hundreds of thousands of troops, gone in the blink of an eye! The army was annihilated, General Zhong Ting was dead, and he had no reason to continue living. The only thing he needed to do now was to organize the remaining forces, to prevent them from scattering, from splitting, from being attacked, and from starving. When Zhong Ping arrived, he could face his death.

As Erlu lay there, he pondered his next move. Knowing he was doomed, he felt a strange sense of relief. At least he wouldn't have to face this fatal defeat, nor such bleak consequences. He had failed the Xiongnu steppe.

"General...have something to eat." The subordinate brought over some roasted meat. In this barren place, there were only small animals like rats. The grass wasn't lush enough, so it was rare to see large animals like deer.

Erru took the meat and ate it, thinking about the next steps. Before he finished a piece of meat and hadn't even screwed the lid back on the kettle, he had already fallen into a deep sleep. He was too exhausted.

Eru felt the morning dew on his face and immediately woke up. His long-standing Hunnic habits returned; the Huns seemed to have a special sensitivity to the morning, habitually waking at the very moment the sun was about to rise. The short ten hours he had slept felt like an eternity. Eru hurriedly stood up; thankfully, everything was as usual, many exhausted soldiers were still fast asleep. The old horses moved quietly, grazing, effectively fulfilling their duty of guard duty. The patrolling soldiers had already fallen asleep on their horses; they were too tired.