Chapter 98

This Hun army, which launched a surprise attack on Jinyang, consisted of over 21,000 men. Led personally by Liu He, the Crown Prince and Left Xianwang of the Han Kingdom of the Huns, it included the forces of several Hun chieftains from the five tribes, such as the Left and Right Yulü Kings and the Left and Right Jianshang Kings, who were ennobled after Liu Yuan declared himself the Great Chanyu. They were originally stationed at the Mengjin Ferry on the Yellow River in Henei, serving as the main force against the court's Luoyang Imperial Guard. There were as many as 43 Hun warriors of the rank of Myriad Households or above in the army, truly a formidable and mighty force.

This army swept through the entire Shangdang Commandery in just one day and night, successively capturing key strategic points such as Zhiguan Ridge, Taihang Ridge, Bai Ridge, and Fukan Ridge. The 4,000 troops Liu Kun had deployed here were mostly killed, except for the 600 or so men loyal to the traitor Long Jimeng, who were coerced into joining the Hun army.

In addition, over a dozen strongholds and mountain strongholds that obstructed the Huns' advance were breached, and the residents, regardless of age or gender, were all killed.

To ensure the suddenness of the operation, the Huns did not rest at all after capturing Shangdang. Early the next morning, they continued their rapid advance northward, slaughtering everyone they encountered along the way. The cities of Xiangyuan and Wuxiang, which lay on their route, were all massacred without exception.

It was not until they reached the vicinity of Yangyi that the Huns' vanguard encountered a small detachment of Jin cavalry scouts. These Jin cavalrymen were unexpectedly slippery and managed to escape the Hun cavalry's encirclement, with nearly half of them getting away. The Huns, unaware that they had encountered Wang Xiu's personal guards of Duke Yuanshi, saw that they were only a hundred miles from Jinyang and decided to no longer conceal their movements, advancing boldly toward Jinyang.

Liu He, wearing his helmet and armor, rode a tall horse at the head of the entire army. Behind him, over a hundred elite cavalrymen surrounded a tall banner, presenting a formidable and majestic sight.

Liu He skillfully controlled the reins with one hand, holding a whip in the other, tapping it against his thigh. He occasionally gazed at the distant mountains and rivers, almost unable to contain his excitement.

Liu Kun was indeed a rare and valiant general among the Jin, but he lacked the ability to judge people. The Long Jimeng he appointed to defend Shangdang had been secretly collaborating with the Huns for years... Perhaps it was truly the protection of the gods that led the Jin to their own downfall.

The Great Chanyu's foresight had already determined everything. Liu Kun's forces were now completely drawn to the southern part of the State of Taiyuan, leaving Jinyang defenseless against the Hun army. With his formidable troops, crushing Jinyang would be like a mountain crushing an egg. Once Jinyang was captured, the fertile lands of Bingzhou would truly become the territory of the Huns.

With Bingzhou as a base, they could advance to conquer the world and covet the imperial throne; or they could retreat to become the dominant power in the northern border, maintaining the legacy of Modu Chanyu!

Liu He, thinking this, gazed excitedly at the ancient and mighty city of Jinyang.

"This is Jinyang!"

He approached the city wall to within about 300 paces, disregarding the possible threat of strong crossbows. At this distance, he could see that the defending troops on the wall were sparse, and the flags were scattered, indicating the panic of the defenders.

The Jin defenders on the wall noticed him and the banner behind him, running back and forth and shouting. Then some officers gathered in this direction, pointing and gesturing. Liu He reined in his horse, raised his head, and looked at them with a slight sneer on his lips.

He knew that this posture appeared extremely heroic to onlookers, so he maintained it for a while longer.

Liu He, whose courtesy name was Xuantai, was the eldest legitimate son of the Great Chanyu Liu Yuan. He was tall and imposing, with a graceful demeanor and a handsome appearance that closely resembled his father. In his youth, he lived in Luoyang with his father Liu Yuan and studied classics such as the *Book of Songs*, *Book of Changes*, and *Spring and Autumn Annals* under renowned teachers, making him a learned scholar among the five tribes of the Huns.

He often prided himself on his literary talents, but since Liu Yuan rebelled against the Jin, he had been involved in continuous warfare, where only bravery and combat skills were valued. Liu Yuan's fourth son, Liu Cong, his half-brother, had achieved numerous victories against the Jin army, gaining a reputation and power that rivaled Liu He's as the heir. This often made him wary.

Fortunately, the Great Chanyu's trust in Liu He remained as strong as ever. Not only had he assigned over 20,000 elite Hun troops to his command, but he had also entrusted him with this major mission, clearly aiming to cultivate his prestige and authority as the heir.

This campaign had been a series of overwhelming victories. Liu He could almost see the sweet fruit within reach. This was another glorious victory after defeating Sima Teng last year. Such a great victory would greatly enhance his prestige, and if he could win the support of the generals in the battle, it would be extremely beneficial for his future succession as the Great Chanyu.

"This is Jinyang!" he couldn't help but exclaim again.

"During the reign of Duke Zhao of the State of Lu, the Jin doctor Zhonghang Mu led an army to attack the White Di. At Dadian, they encountered the forces of Wuzhong and the various Di tribes. Zhonghang Mu, following the advice of Wei Xian, dismantled their chariots and fought on foot, ultimately defeating the enemy and capturing the land of Taiyuan. Several years later, Dong An, a retainer of Zhao Jianzi, was ordered to build a city on the north bank of the Jin River, which is today's Jinyang."

Liu He sighed deeply, "Zhao Xiangzi used Jinyang as a base to establish one of the seven major powers of the Warring States, leading to Li Mu's conquest of the Chilu, defeat of the Donghu, and subjugation of the Linhu, repelling our Hun army. Now, the Han dynasty has lost control, and the Central Plains are in disarray. The Great Chanyu continues the legacy of the three ancestors, advancing from southern Jin. Our tens of thousands of elite Hun troops have reached the walls of Jinyang, and the foundation of the Han kingdom will be decided in this battle. Could this significant moment be a gift from heaven?"

There was a moment of silence.

Liu He was well-versed in literature and had a graceful demeanor, but those around him were illiterate Hun warriors. They could fight and storm cities, but when it came to eloquent speech... No one could understand Liu He's refined words.

Liu He felt a bit disheartened. He shook his head and asked Xubu Ba, a general and Left Guduhou, who was riding beside him, "Have our men already infiltrated the city?"

Xubu Ba was a trusted general of Liu He. Unlike the typical robust Huns, he was slender and looked as if a gust of wind could knock him over. However, the two sabers hanging from his waist were several times wider than the standard size, clearly much heavier, proving that he was a powerful and fierce warrior.

In response to Liu He's question, Xubu Ba respectfully said, "I have arranged for skilled messengers who understand Chinese, and General Long has also dispatched capable men. They have entered Jinyang through different gates and will contact the four major families, the Tian, Chi, Wang, and Gao, who have long been in contact with us, to coordinate with our army's attack tomorrow."

A Hun general riding to Liu He's right sneered, "The Han people are like reeds in the wind, always ready to betray their own." This man was about forty years old, with curly hair and light brown eyes, and a strong, robust build. He was Helai Gutu, the Left Jianshang King of the Huns, one of the powerful chieftains with a large army, ranking alongside the Tuoba royal family.

Helai Gutu loudly declared, "Left Xianwang, we Huns rely on our strong horses and brave soldiers, and we never need the help of Han traitors. Our numbers are ten times that of the Jin, and our troops are ten times more elite. We have been victorious in every city we've attacked, and our morale is high. Today is the perfect time to break through the city. Why delay? If you order the attack now, I, Helai Gutu, will lead the charge. By nightfall, you will see heads rolling in the city!"

Liu He found this idea unreliable. Jinyang was indeed weak in troops, but it had been a key border town since the Han and Wei dynasties, with high walls and deep moats. Even with a large Hun army, could they really knock down the walls with cavalry? This was a siege, not a hunt!

More importantly, this battle was not just a military consideration. Liu He wanted a decisive, clean, and preferably bloodless victory to demonstrate his dual prowess in both civil and military affairs, showing the significant role of his literary and political strategies for the Han Kingdom of the Huns, unlike his brothers. Those who only knew how to fight were mere brutes, unfit for important tasks. He, the Crown Prince of the Han Kingdom of the Huns, needed this victory to solidify his unshakable position!

Though he thought this, he couldn't say it outright. Liu He politely responded, "King Helai is truly brave... With King Helai's help, capturing Jinyang will not be difficult. However, even the fiercest wolf pack needs rest at times. The situation is now under control, and there's no need to rush. The soldiers have been marching and fighting for seven consecutive days and are very tired. Why not let them rest well tonight and have people prepare ladders and other siege equipment? With inside and outside coordination, we can capture Jinyang in one day tomorrow! King Helai, what do you think?"

Helai Gutu had no objections.

Thus, Liu He continued to issue orders. He sent two detachments across the Fen River to capture Longshan to the west of Jinyang and Mengshan to the south. He himself led the main Hun army to set up camps to the east and north of the city. Over 20,000 elite soldiers surrounded Jinyang, their military might formidable, with the sounds of drums and horns echoing and deafening.

******

A friend named magazine380 left a long comment in the book review section. I read it several times and found it insightful and very reasonable. I sincerely thank magazine380 for your guidance. I will carefully consider your suggestions and strive to provide a systematic response this afternoon.

As a new writer, I am well aware of my crude writing and shallow knowledge. Any progress I have made is due to the help of all the readers. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about *Fufeng Song*, please feel free to share them in the book review section, on the Baidu Tieba, or in the QQ group. I will earnestly learn from everyone and strive to live up to your care and improve.

I bow deeply in gratitude.