Chapter 34

"Here come the Xiongnu! Run for your lives!" The people of the Han dynasty envoy, upon seeing Ying Pi leading his army charging towards them, were filled with terror. They quickly turned their horses and fled, shouting as they ran, "Brothers, run for your lives!"

Unfortunately, this time their timing was bad. If they had arrived half an hour earlier and stumbled into the ambush, they would have been captured by now! Zhong Xing stood on a hill, watching the panicked Han dynasty envoy flee. However, it didn't matter; how could their horsemanship compare to the bravery of the Xiongnu warriors? They would probably be caught and slaughtered by Ying Pi in no time!

"Brave warriors of the Great Xiongnu! Follow me and kill these cowardly Han people!" Ying Pi, with a cruel smile, brandished his curved sword and pursued the Han dynasty envoy closely. In his view, it would take no more than the time to drink a bowl of yogurt before he would achieve a great victory, return with a full load of gold and silver, and buy new clothes for his wife!

Although the Han people were not good at fighting, the things they made were exquisitely beautiful! However, he didn't understand why the Heavenly King opposed them wearing Han silk and insisted they wear the smelly sheepskin!

While Ying Pi was lost in thought, the Han dynasty envoy, seeing the Xiongnu getting closer, became even more panicked. The leader shouted, "Quickly throw away the silk and gold! The horses will run faster with less weight!"

Saying this, he untied a bundle from his horse and threw it backward. Bright and beautiful silk fabrics immediately flew toward the Xiongnu cavalry! The others also quickly threw down the goods they were carrying! In a moment, silk, tea bricks, gold, and silver were scattered everywhere, and even two jars of wine were smashed on the roadside.

"Is that wine?" The smell of alcohol spread, and some of the Xiongnu pursuers couldn't resist slowing their horses, staring at the scattered goods, trying to find an unbroken jar of wine!

"Silk! That's Han silk! I've seen the nobles' wives wear it in the tribe!"

"Tea bricks! Only the nobles can drink this! It's said that drinking water boiled with tea bricks will prevent all diseases and keep the body healthy!"

The previous times they had eliminated the Han dynasty envoy, the goods were well-preserved and unopened, to be taken back to the royal court and presented to the nobles! But now, the goods scattered on the roadside belonged to whoever could grab them! According to Xiongnu rules, no one could take away what a warrior had captured in battle!

For a moment, the formation of the Xiongnu cavalry scattered. Some, relying on their superb horsemanship, bent down from their horses, picked up the silk hanging by the roadside, and wrapped it around themselves, laughing! Others dismounted to pick up the precious tea bricks and the scattered gold and silver.

"This is mine! Let go!" "I saw it first! Get lost!" Two Xiongnu cavalrymen stood by the roadside, each holding one end of a piece of silk, pulling with all their might, neither willing to let go!

Suddenly, one Xiongnu cavalryman's eyes lit up, and he lunged forward toward a tea brick. Just as he was about to grab it, a foot appeared beside the tea brick, gently pushing it away, making him miss! A cavalryman from another tribe laughed and picked up the tea brick, stuffing it into his chest! He then glanced at him disdainfully.

How could he tolerate this? The Xiongnu man who saw the tea brick first immediately pounced on him, knocking him to the ground and reaching into his chest, trying to take the tea brick back! This thing could be exchanged for several sheep on the grassland! How could he let it go so easily? The man he had knocked down also refused to let go, and the two began rolling on the ground, engaged in a fierce struggle.

The road was narrow, and with this group blocking the way, the reinforcements following behind couldn't pass! They also joined in the scramble for the goods discarded by the Han dynasty envoy! They had been eyeing the goods packed away in the previous raids, and now they finally had the chance to grab some for themselves!

Standing on the hilltop, Zhong Xing felt something was wrong. The Han dynasty envoy had only scattered some goods, and the Xiongnu pursuers were already split into two groups, a small part following Ying Pi closely, while the majority were fighting over the goods by the roadside. Moreover, the number of envoy members in his field of vision seemed to be fewer than the scouts had reported, not the over a hundred people!

Not good! This is a Han trick! Zhong Xing, well-versed in history, sensed something amiss and quickly ordered the Xiongnu servant beside him, "Blow the horn, tell General Ying Pi to slow down the pursuit!"

The Xiongnu servant looked at Zhong Xing in confusion. General Ying Pi was about to catch those cowardly Han people! Why slow down the pursuit? Did I hear wrong?

"Did you hear me? Blow the horn!" Zhong Xing, in a hurry, immediately lashed out with his whip, striking him.

At this point, the Xiongnu servant realized his ears were not deceiving him and quickly took out the horn and blew it, but the delay had already made the signal a bit late.

Ying Pi led the Xiongnu cavalry in close pursuit of the Han dynasty envoy, and they were about to catch up as they rounded the next bend! Thinking of the impending slaughter and the rich spoils, Ying Pi's smile became even more sinister.

Suddenly, a horn sounded from the distance. Hmm? Is this the signal to pause the pursuit? Ying Pi slowed his horse, looking back toward the hill! What is the Heavenly King doing, telling us to pause the pursuit at this moment?

In the ranks, some heard the horn and stopped with Ying Pi, while others, either not hearing or tempted by the goods, continued to charge forward! The cavalry's combat effectiveness was further divided.

When they rounded the bend, they were surprised to find that the Han dynasty envoy's cavalry had stopped fleeing and were now turning around, smiling at them!

Just as the Xiongnu cavalry were puzzled, a thunderous roar echoed, "I am the unparalleled general Pan Feng! Surrender your lives!"

The sound was still ringing in their ears when a tall, broad-shouldered man, wearing armor and wielding a large axe, charged at them on horseback.

His large axe slashed left and right, and no Xiongnu cavalryman could stand against him. In the blink of an eye, he reached Ying Pi, "I do not slay the nameless. State your name!"

"I am Ying Pi, a thousand-ride commander of the Great Xiongnu royal court!" Ying Pi replied in broken Han, gripping his curved sword and urging his horse forward, planning to strike first!

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