Chapter 67

Lu Yao led 150 cavalrymen galloping forward, passing through the territory of Qixian County. Due to the complex terrain with waterways crisscrossing and the poor condition of the roads, despite their best efforts to speed up, they had only covered about twenty li by noon.

This area happened to be the site of the old Guo Family Fort. The once grand structures, now reduced to blackened ruins, had been ravaged by fire. Moreover, after the withdrawal of the government troops, local warlords had likely sent people to loot the area. Not only valuables but even beams and bricks from the buildings had been taken away, leaving the vast open area completely unrecognizable from its original fort.

At this moment, Lu Yao should have been focused, but he suddenly thought of the woman arranged to stay in the room that night. Such a delicate girl, originally cherished by her family like a pearl, had been reduced to this in the chaotic times. Even the most precious things she possessed could not save her father's life.

This thought flashed through Lu Yao's mind and was quickly cast aside. Lu Yao spurred his horse forward, silent, and the soldiers followed without a word. The only sound was the rhythmic thudding of hundreds of hooves accompanying their advance.

By now, they had covered half the distance from Jinyang to Jiezhou. At any moment, they might encounter the Xiongnu, so the soldiers were extremely cautious. They no longer marched along the official road but instead circled through the wilderness, moving through the lowlands between the hills. The terrain here was uneven, not ideal for cavalry combat, but very suitable for stealthy movement.

Lu Yao extended the entire formation into a rough triangle, forming a loose battle array. He personally led a dozen cavalrymen at the tip of the triangle, carefully observing the terrain and landscape along the way. He also dispatched scouts along the official road, ahead of the formation, and to the flanks, to closely monitor enemy movements.

Additionally, every two hours, they sent two cavalrymen back to Jinyang to report the current military situation, ensuring the main camp received the latest intelligence.

Proceeding cautiously, by late afternoon, the scouts reported the discovery of a group of enemy troops advancing north along the official road.

Upon receiving the report, Lu Yao immediately ordered the entire army to retreat to a forest. This forest was one of several pre-selected hiding spots along their route, concealed among the undulating hills. Over a hundred men and horses were hidden deep within the forest, undetectable from the outside.

Lu Yao then led a few subordinates toward the direction of the enemy. They climbed a hill and, near the top, carefully lay down, exposing only the top halves of their heads to observe. The hill was far from the official road, and there was no need to be so cautious, but the Xiongnu had many scouts, so they could not afford to be careless.

From a distance, the Xiongnu were all cavalry, numbering about three hundred. They wore leather coats and short clothes, carrying a variety of weapons. They did not carry banners, and their formation was disorganized. Most of the Xiongnu army, except for the elite troops accompanying the Great Chanyu, were conscripted from various tribes and lacked uniform uniforms and equipment, looking much like refugees at first glance.

Shen Jin spat and said, "Just a bunch of rabble!"

Lu Yao inwardly cursed Shen Jin: either he was extremely optimistic by nature or had forgotten the pain of past wounds. He glared at him. The Xiongnu might appear disorganized, but they were naturally fierce and skilled in combat. Underestimating them would surely lead to a disastrous defeat.

Not long after this group of cavalry passed, a large cloud of dust rose to the south, and the main Xiongnu force appeared.

Since the Xiongnu split into northern and southern factions and moved westward, they were no longer the dominant power on the steppe. However, the influence of the Xiongnu royal court, built over centuries of glory, remained significant. When Liu Yuan rose in rebellion, many tribes rallied to his banner.

First to pass before Lu Yao and his men were over a thousand Jiehu warriors with high noses and deep-set eyes. The Jiehu were descendants of the Qiangqu tribe who had entered the frontier with the Southern Xiongnu and mainly resided in Shangdang Commandery. They were generally poor, living by farming or working as laborers. A few years ago, Sima Teng of the Eastern Jin dynasty had captured and sold many of them into slavery. No one had expected their swift and brutal retaliation. The Jiehu in Bingzhou followed the Xiongnu rebellion, and even in Jizhou, large numbers of Jiehu warriors caused chaos, with many fierce Jiehu fighters in the ranks of the notorious bandit Ji Sang.

Next came the Wuhuan cavalry, advancing slowly and leisurely. Over the past century, the Liaoxi Wuhuan had been frequently conscripted by the court to participate in wars across China, earning the reputation of "the three commanderies' Wuhuan as the finest cavalry in the world." The Wuhuan in Bingzhou had long been dependent on the Xiongnu and were also known as the Xiongnu Tiefu tribe. The relaxed demeanor of these knights clearly indicated they were seasoned veterans, living up to their reputation.

The Wuhuan cavalry did not strictly follow the main road but spread out over several miles, advancing along multiple riverbeds and ridges. To avoid being detected by the Wuhuan, Lu Yao and his men had to move several times, feeling quite disheveled. They finally found a mountain hollow to hide in, only a hill away from the main route of the Xiongnu army.

Estimating that the Wuhuan cavalry had moved far enough away, Lu Yao and his men climbed the hill to observe. The true Xiongnu troops under the royal court were now in sight, marching in strict formation. The powerful footsteps of the soldiers made the ground tremble dozens of yards away, and a rough estimate put their numbers at three to four thousand.

These Xiongnu soldiers were originally ordinary poor people, possessing nothing but resentment and hatred. But now, through a series of victories, they had seized the armor and weapons of the Jin army, honing their fierce claws and becoming a formidable and terrifying force!

The famine of the past year had indeed severely impacted the Xiongnu's pastoral economy, and this Xiongnu army was primarily composed of infantry, with surprisingly few cavalry. In the middle of the formation, several dozen well-armored officers and generals slowly rode their horses, surrounding a robust general. The general, almost touching the ground with his feet while on horseback, was a rare giant.

Lu Yao squinted and observed for a while, then patted Shen Jin's shoulder and said, "Did you see clearly? That giant is Qiao Xi, right?"

"Right, that's Qiao Xi," Shen Jin said through gritted teeth. "He's a half-breed of mixed Xiongnu and Han descent, with red hair, making him easy to recognize."

Lu Yao nodded. The giant's beard, red like blood in the setting sun, was unmistakable. He was merely confirming with Shen Jin. Qiao Xi was a renowned hero of the Xiongnu Han state, skilled with an eighteen-foot-long snake spear, and known for his bravery. Since the Xiongnu uprising, he had often led the vanguard, crushing all opposition, earning him the title of Champion General, symbolizing his bravery surpassing all others.

For Lu Yao, Shen Jin, and the remaining Bingzhou army, Qiao Xi was an old adversary. During the decisive battle between the Jin army and the Xiongnu at Daling last year, Shen Jin had faced him, managing to escape with his life but suffering heavy casualties. Later, Qiao Xi assisted Liu Cong in capturing several cities in the eastern part of the Taiyuan Kingdom, including Pingtao, Zishi, Wu County, and Jiezhou.

Qiao Xi was known for his brutality. After capturing Jiezhou, he executed the magistrate Jia Huan and, failing to rape Jia Huan's wife Zong, killed her as well. His actions were so heinous that even Han King Liu Yuan was appalled and reprimanded him. Perhaps because of this incident, in this major Xiongnu campaign, the Champion General Qiao Xi was only leading a few thousand mixed troops over the mountains as a flank force. Since Jiezhou was still in Jin hands, the task of this mixed force was not to advance north but to cut off any possible Jin reinforcements.

After a while, the units on the road were no longer soldiers but supplies, clearly looted from places like Wu County and Zhongdu.

"Let's go," Lu Yao said.

The group slid down the hill and hurried to the forest where the other soldiers were hiding. They had not gone far when they heard a low horn sound from the other side of the hill.

All of them, experienced in fighting the Xiongnu, recognized the common horn signals and said, "The Xiongnu are setting up camp. Let's go, let's go!"

******

With 800 favorites, as promised, I'm adding an extra chapter. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to friends like yy67382183, Daliushu Town Chief, glz565, and Huangtangyan for their support, which has greatly boosted my morale.

I continue to call for clicks, red tickets, and favorites. During these bare days, the growth of various data is truly like a snail's pace. :）

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