Chapter 22

On the city wall of Jixian, Liu Yao stood by the edge, gazing into the distance, while Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, and Tian Feng stood behind him.

"Report, my lord, scouts have reported that smoke has been seen thirty miles to the north," a small soldier reported.

"Understood, you may go," Liu Yao waved the soldier away. "Yuanhao, how long will it take for the senna to take effect?"

"My lord, according to the doctor, even the strongest person will be affected within two hours," Tian Feng replied.

Liu Yao studied the map of Youzhou for a long time before saying, "Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong, listen to my orders."

"Your orders, my lord."

"Huang Zhong, I am giving you five infantry camps, one cavalry camp, and one of my personal guard camps. Set out immediately and arrive within two hours to catch the Wuhuan off guard. If they flee, do not pursue them; just gather the horses, weapons, and supplies."

"Understood."

"Zhang Fei, all the remaining two thousand cavalry are now under your command. Set out immediately and head to the path the Wuhuan will take if they flee. Once you spot any Wuhuan, attack them fiercely," Liu Yao pointed to a spot on the map.

"Understood."

"Remember, apart from the horses and the leading officers, I do not want to see any living beings left alive," Liu Yao said with a murderous aura.

"Understood." Zhang Fei and Huang Zhong shivered and responded in unison. They then went to prepare their troops.

Liu Yao turned around and saw Tian Feng's somewhat stiff expression. "Hehe, Yuanhao, are you still blaming me for being too cruel?"

Tian Feng shook his head and said, "My lord, I believe you are right. Not killing the Wuhuan would be allowing them to harm our Han people. I just need some time to get used to it."

"Those who offend our Han, no matter how far, must be punished," Liu Yao said coldly, then continued to look into the distance.

In the main tent of the Wuhuan camp, Subul was sitting on the ground, lost in thought.

At this moment, Wudan walked in. "Brother Subul, why aren't you eating? The food we seized this time is of the best quality, much better than the old grain we used to buy from those merchants at high prices."

Subul looked up at Wudan and said helplessly, "Brother Wudan, I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling. I can't figure out what's wrong."

"Brother Subul, what's wrong with you? Why are you so cautious since we came to the Central Plains? You were the same when we seized the food earlier. This isn't like you," Wudan complained.

"I..." Subul was about to speak.

"Bad news, my lord, bad news," a Wuhuan messenger burst into the tent, shouting.

"You fool, can't you see we are discussing important matters? How dare you interrupt us?" the hot-tempered Wudan said, ready to punish the messenger.

"Stop." Subul immediately reprimanded Wudan, who reluctantly stepped back. Wudan feared no one but his sworn brother Subul.

"Speak, what is the matter?" Subul looked at the soldier.

"My lord, bad news, the brothers outside are all suffering from diarrhea," the messenger said, terrified.

"What did you say?!" Subul exploded in anger.

"Ouch, Brother Subul, I'm not feeling well either, my stomach is in turmoil," Wudan said, trying to hold back the pain.

"Brother Wudan, are you okay?" Subul asked anxiously.

"I'm, I'm fine..." Wudan said weakly, but his pale face and large sweat drops betrayed his condition.

Subul became anxious, thinking, "How could this happen? One person having diarrhea is understandable, but all of them? It must be the food!!! Only the food could cause such a widespread effect."

He then looked at the messenger, who seemed unaffected. "Did you eat anything tonight?"

"No, I have been patrolling all night and haven't had time to eat," the messenger replied.

"Damn those despicable Han people," Subul cursed.

"Brother Subul, what's going on?" Wudan asked, enduring the pain.

"It's the food. The Han people must have poisoned the food, and they let us seize it on purpose," Subul said through gritted teeth. Then, as if remembering something, he shouted, "No, the Han people wouldn't do this without a follow-up plan. Wudan, quickly order the brothers to retreat."

"Kill... kill them all." A deep roar came from outside the tent.

"Bad news, Wudan, let's go," Subul shouted, pulling the suffering Wudan out of the tent.

At this moment, Huang Zhong's seven camps, totaling 21,000 troops, had already arrived at the Wuhuan camp. Seeing the chaotic camp, Huang Zhong sneered, "Personal guard camp, continuous crossbow fire."

In the next moment, 3,000 personal guards stepped forward and fired in three volleys. Instantly, 30,000 crossbow bolts rained down on the Wuhuan. "Aaaaaah!!!" The cries of agony filled the air as a large number of Wuhuan fell.

"Put away the crossbows, everyone, attack," Huang Zhong ordered again. He led the charge, slashing and killing several Wuhuan with his sword.

The Wuhuan had only 30,000 men, while Huang Zhong had 21,000. The numerical advantage, combined with the Wuhuan's weakened state, meant that at least 5,000 Wuhuan were killed in the first clash. The remaining Wuhuan, seeing this, fled for their lives, trying to find their horses. Unfortunately, they lacked the strength to mount them. The Wuhuan could only run on foot, hoping to save their lives.

At this moment, Subul and Wudan also rushed out of the tent and saw Huang Zhong slaughtering their men, who were already in disarray, fleeing for their lives. Subul shouted desperately, "Hold your ground, don't run, stand your ground."

However, Subul's voice was drowned out by the sounds of battle. Even if the Wuhuan heard him, they would not listen, as their lives were at stake.

"Damn it," Subul cursed.

"Brother Subul, let's run. We've lost. We need to find a way to survive," Wudan said, enduring the pain.

"Alright, let's go," Subul, a decisive man, said and immediately fled with Wudan, riding a horse in one direction.

With his sharp eyes, Huang Zhong saw everything and sneered. "Hmph, there are still people waiting for you ahead."

Huang Zhong strictly followed Liu Yao's orders, not to pursue the fleeing Wuhuan, and continued to kill the surrounding Wuhuan soldiers.

When the Wuhuan were almost all killed, only about 2,000 remained.

"Aaaaah, I surrender, don't kill me," a few Wuhuan who spoke Chinese threw down their weapons and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy. The other Wuhuan, seeing this, followed suit, throwing down their weapons and kneeling.

For a moment, Huang Zhong's men stopped and looked at him, as it was an unwritten rule in Han not to kill prisoners of war.

Huang Zhong sneered and said, "My lord's order: those who offend our Han, no matter how far, must be punished. Kill them."