Chapter 56

In the early morning, the rising sun peeked over the eastern horizon, and the sky was a clear blue without a single cloud! It was easy to predict that today would be another warm and sunny day! It was perfect for setting fires!

The warm winter sun drove away the cold of the night, waking Li You from his sleep! He lifted the curtain and stepped out of the tent, squinting his eyes. Once he adjusted to the outdoor sunlight, he looked westward! Ha, it seems your Kunlun god has not blessed you! The grassland is now bathed in the light of the Sun God Donghuang Taiyi, revered by the Han people!

"Lord, today is a fine day for burning the enemy's supplies, with wind but no clouds!" As a general, one must understand astronomy and geography. Chen Qingzhi saw that it would definitely not snow today. He pointed to the flag fluttering on the tent top and said.

"General Ziyun, you will guard the camp today!" Chen Qingzhi had been overexerted these past few days and had not fully recovered. Moreover, they were not facing a regular army, so there was no need for him to lead the charge. Therefore, Li You left him in the camp to rest, while he and Pan Feng were responsible for the combat command.

With about seventy to eighty experienced and highly motivated veterans, plus a formidable warrior like Pan Feng, Chen Qingzhi had no doubt they would win. He accepted Li You's suggestion with a bow, "I will arrange for them to start the fire and prepare the meal here. I await your triumphant return, Lord!"

"Order all squads and platoons! Eat immediately, pack your rations, and bring torches! Set out in fifteen minutes!" This was the first time Li You had led a battle without Chen Qingzhi's guidance since arriving in the Han dynasty, and he felt a bit uneasy. However, when he saw the highly motivated Han soldiers, his unease vanished, and confidence filled his heart. How could he possibly lose to a bunch of nomads with such a strong army?

Xu Yannian and his comrades showed no signs of pre-battle tension. They ate their food in large bites and chatted casually, as if they were about to engage in a light task, like collecting protection fees from merchants in Chang'an who had no background.

Upon careful consideration, collecting protection fees in Chang'an required them to be cautious of the Tingwei (magistrates). Now, the young men of the tribes were all out, and they would face almost no resistance on this mission.

After a quick meal, they stuffed two flatbreads (similar to the modern Shaanxi pot helmet, which the Qin army carried as rations) for lunch, and packed their swords and torches. Under the leadership of their squad and platoon leaders, the soldiers mounted their horses and lined up, ready to bring destruction and despair to the Xiongnu.

"During this operation, do not engage the enemy for too long! Remember, burning the enemy's hay is the top priority!" Li You reminded them before setting out, fearing they might get carried away in the heat of battle.

"Respect the order of the governor! Do not engage the enemy, focus on burning the hay!" The seventy or so Han soldiers shouted in unison.

"Check your armor, swords, and torches!" Li You stood in front of the formation, looking over each soldier. The formation was filled with the sound of rustling as the soldiers checked their equipment, then quickly fell silent. Seventy pairs of eyes, eager for battle, looked at Li You.

"Good! These are the true sons of our great Han!" Li You drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it forward, "Men, follow me to punish the Xiongnu!"

The soldiers responded in unison, and the hooves of 150 horses pounded the ground as they galloped towards the Xiongnu tribe, raising a cloud of dust...

"Governor, we are ten miles away from the small tribe!" Tang Yifu urged his horse to catch up with Li You. This was the tribe with four hundred people but few young men!

"Stop!" Li You waved to halt the advance and felt the wind direction, "Rest for fifteen minutes to conserve the horses' strength! Then take a detour to the west and attack from the northwest!" The wind was blowing from the northwest, making it the perfect direction to start a fire!

The Han soldiers dismounted, took out water bags and horse feed from the bags on the saddles, and fed their horses. They then checked their torches and flintstones one last time before sitting down to rest, drink water, and eat dry rations. The entire process was completed in silence, with no one speaking, showing the efficiency and composure of a well-trained army.

If they could return to Chang'an, even the least capable among them could become a commander of a hundred men. Who would recognize that they were once idle wanderers in the city a month ago? Indeed, the battlefield is the best school for soldiers! But how many of them would be lucky enough to return to Chang'an?

After fifteen minutes, they silently stood up, mounted their horses, and followed Li You in a wide circle to the northwest of the tribe. This was the top of a small hill, and the tribe's tents were scattered below. The high ground was advantageous for a cavalry charge, and their luck was truly exceptional today!

"Pan Feng, you lead twenty men to attack from the left and burn the central tents! Tang Yifu, you lead twenty men to attack from the right, break the fence of the horse corral, and drive out the cattle, sheep, and horses! The rest of you follow me and attack from the center, burning the large hay stacks! All soldiers, light the torches!" Li You took out his torch and lit it from the others, and in an instant, over seventy torches were lit.

He turned and scanned the formation, seeing that everyone was ready. He shouted loudly, "Think of our hard battles these past days, think of your burned homes! The time for revenge has come! Follow me to burn the Xiongnu's hay and tents! Let them taste the cold and hunger!"

With that, Li You charged down the hill, followed by the thirty soldiers under his command. Pan Feng and Tang Yifu also led their respective groups in arcs, attacking the left and right flanks of the tribe.

"What is that sound? Could they be back?" The small Xiongnu tribe, unaware of the impending death, ran out of their tents, expecting to see their loved ones. Instead, they saw Han cavalry!

Without even drawing their swords, the momentum of the horses was enough to scatter the unprepared Xiongnu. Torches soaked in oil flew towards the towering hay stacks!

The fire, fueled by the wind, quickly turned the hay stacks into raging flames. The flames devoured the hay stacks, which were vital to the Xiongnu's survival, and the tents that provided shelter from the cold. Cattle, sheep, and horses ran wildly in the smoke and flames! The entire tribe fell into chaos and despair.

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