Chapter 32

"Let the lord laugh at me!" Despite the dim light in the tent, Li You could see that Chen Qingzhi's face was slightly flushed, as if he was also embarrassed by his impolite behavior just now.

"No problem, is General Ziyun injured? Should I call a doctor to help you?" Li You asked with concern. Now all his hopes were pinned on Chen Qingzhi, and if anything happened to him, he wouldn't know where to cry!

"No, no!" Chen Qingzhi waved his hands hurriedly, sat down at the lower seat, and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. Li You explained his current situation to him and then asked, "At present, Zhong Xing is leading a large army to intercept us, and other roads are also blocked. Does General Ziyun have any good strategies?"

Chen Qingzhi knelt straight on the mat, showing good manners and etiquette. After hearing Li You's question, he closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How many troops do you have now? What is their combat capability?"

"The mission team has over a hundred people, but apart from guides, doctors, and stable hands, there are fewer than a hundred who can fight!" During the journey, Li You had not wasted his time. Through observation and conversation, he had gained a fairly clear understanding of the team, "But most of these soldiers are ruffians from Chang'an, who are never afraid in one-on-one fights, but they lack the ability to form and maintain battle formations!"

Most of these people were street knights, each with decent martial skills. Otherwise, they wouldn't have had the courage to join the mission team. However, they were used to a free and easy lifestyle and had not undergone strict military training, making it far beyond their capabilities to fight in formation.

Chen Qingzhi's brows furrowed slightly, indicating his dissatisfaction with the soldiers' situation. After a moment of thought, he said, "Only those who dare to fight have a chance to win." In his military career, he had seen examples of soldiers scattering enemy forces many times their number through sheer bravery. He then asked, "How is the combat capability of the Xiongnu cavalry?"

"The Xiongnu live by hunting and herding, especially skilled in archery and horsemanship. The thousand cavalry led by Zhong Xing are the elite of the Xiongnu royal court! They fight bravely and are ruthless against enemies, with combat capabilities far superior to our army! Moreover, these are seasoned veterans, with strict discipline and coordinated movements, and Zhong Xing can command them like an extension of his own body! They are indeed formidable opponents!" This information came partly from Tang Yifu's introduction and partly from the accounts of the two surviving members of the advance mission team.

Li You's mission team was far weaker than the Xiongnu cavalry in both combat capability and numbers, and even in discipline. At first glance, the chances of victory seemed slim indeed!

"Ah, they are indeed formidable opponents!" Chen Qingzhi, well-versed in history, knew the story of Modu Chanyu's training of his troops with whistling arrows. Li You's words confirmed that the elite cavalry of the Xiongnu royal court had not degenerated. His face now showed a troubled expression.

Seeing this, Li You's heart sank. He knew that even Chen Qingzhi would have no good strategies in such an unfavorable situation. Could they really be doomed to perish here?

"Lord, do not worry! There is no army that is bound to win, nor any battle that is bound to be lost!" Chen Qingzhi noticed his unease and comforted him, "I have not yet seen the mission team's soldiers or the Xiongnu army with my own eyes. Therefore, I cannot yet offer you a strategy. After I familiarize myself with our side, the enemy, and the terrain of the battlefield, I will present my plan to you!"

"That is very good. Everything is left to General Ziyun!" By now, it was late at night, and after their conversation, both went to sleep. The next morning, Li You called over Tang Yifu and introduced him to Chen Qingzhi, "This is my friend, General Chen Qingzhi. From now on, the soldiers in the mission team will be led by General Chen. When General Chen gives orders, no one must disobey! This is my deputy, Tang Yifu, who is well-versed in Xiongnu affairs. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him!"

Such a young general? Could he be from a noble family? But since the founding of the Han Dynasty, the Chen family had only a few marquises, such as the Marquis of Tangyi, the Marquis of Quni, the Marquis of Yangxia, and the Marquis of Heyang. There was no mention of a General Chen Qingzhi. Moreover, he had not been seen when they left the pass yesterday, but suddenly appeared by the lord's side the next day. What was his background?

Tang Yifu kept his doubts to himself, had someone help Li You tidy up the camp, and then led a horse to Chen Qingzhi, "The journey ahead is long. General Chen, please mount the horse!"

"Um, okay!" Chen Qingzhi scratched his head, walked around the horse, and clumsily tried to mount it, but fell to the ground again, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Chen Qingzhi did not get angry, got up, and with Tang Yifu's help, finally managed to sit steadily. The two rode side by side, with Chen Qingzhi observing the soldiers in the mission team and occasionally asking Tang Yifu about the Xiongnu.

He really doesn't look like a famous general! He can't even ride a horse well! Li You couldn't help but shake his head. But then he thought, there are more than a few famous generals in the Southern Liang who were like him! The famous general Wei Rui, known as "Wei Hu" by the Northern Wei army, would abandon his horse and sit in a sedan chair, commanding with a three-foot bamboo stick. Later, this elegant demeanor was imitated by Uesugi Kenshin in the Japanese Warring States period, but he only copied the surface and not the essence.

"...... In the past, when the Xiongnu fought enemies, those who cut off enemy heads were given a cup of wine. Now, to drive their tribes to fight others, in addition to the wine, the spoils of war, including captives and supplies, are rewarded to the individuals, so the Xiongnu tribes fight with self-sacrifice and bravery......" Tang Yifu led the mission team while introducing the information he knew to Chen Qingzhi.

"Deputy, you are indeed well-versed in Xiongnu affairs! I admire you!" Chen Qingzhi did not look down on Tang Yifu because of his Xiongnu background. Hearing this, a spark of inspiration flashed in his eyes, as if he had grasped something.

After traveling for a while, during a rest stop, Chen Qingzhi continued to ask Tang Yifu questions, "May I ask, Deputy, where will the Xiongnu cavalry intercept us? What is the terrain like there?"

"About a hundred miles ahead, we will encounter the Xiongnu cavalry tomorrow. On one side is a river, and on the other side is a mountain......" Tang Yifu picked up a stone and, following Chen Qingzhi's instructions, drew a rough map of the potential battlefield on the ground.

Chen Qingzhi either pointed to a spot on the map and asked questions or closed his eyes in deep thought. After a long while, he stood up and walked to Li You, "Lord, this battle is indeed unfavorable for us, but it is not without a chance of victory!"

Hmm? So quickly he has a plan? Li You hurriedly asked, "General Ziyun, what is your strategy?"

"I have thought of some methods, but without the right people, it will be difficult to defeat the Xiongnu!" Then Chen Qingzhi whispered his plan to Li You.