The aspirations of ordinary people throughout history have always been simple: to live and have enough to eat is their dream.
Mu Zian looked at the neatly stacked hay in front of him; this thousand-pound fodder weighed more than Mount Tai.
Nothing was said that night, but all the night scouts were holding their breath in resentment.
The county town was filled with the sounds of warhorses chewing fodder, the sounds of soldiers sharpening their swords at night, and even more so, the sounds of death descending.
Time was of the essence, and Mu Zian could not linger here any longer.
After a day of rest, Mu Zian led his army again and headed straight for Wuwei City.
The closer you get to Wuwei City, the more desolate the scenery becomes.
Along the way, countless villages that had been massacred were reduced to ruins.
Mu Zian witnessed all of this, and his anger grew even stronger.
On his way to Wuwei, Mu Zian once again encountered a group of Xiongnu cavalry.
They killed over a hundred more Xiongnu cavalrymen, but the night scouts also suffered some casualties.
After seven or eight days of forced march, the ancient and imposing outline of Wuwei City was clearly visible.
The frontier lacks the prosperity of the capital, but it possesses a more rugged and desolate charm.
Wuwei City was shrouded in a thick layer of sand and dust, and the city walls were covered with arrows.
Mu Zian did not enter the city directly, but chose to hide for the time being.
This force of a thousand men, kept out of the night, would be too conspicuous and easily arouse the suspicion of the Xiongnu.
After climbing a high slope, Mu Zian used the telescope he had been rewarded with by the system to look towards Wuwei City.
Less than five miles from Wuwei City was the main camp of the Xiongnu vanguard army.
Mu Zian handed the binoculars to Jia Xu.
After a moment, Jia Xu put down his telescope and then spoke.
"There are at least five thousand Xiongnu cavalry in this vanguard camp. If we add the scouts scattered into Liangzhou, the Xiongnu vanguard army probably has around ten thousand cavalry."
"The Xiongnu cavalry always relied on fighting to sustain themselves, and since cavalrymen could move swiftly and could not carry large amounts of dry rations, a protracted siege was very disadvantageous for them."
"If Fuling City hadn't fallen, allowing them to receive supplies, the situation in Wuwei City probably wouldn't be so dire."
"Right now, these vanguard troops are waiting for the Xiongnu Left Wise King's army to arrive and join them. If Wuwei City falls again, the entire Liangzhou will become the Xiongnu's horse racing track."
"Moreover, with these two cities, the Xiongnu cavalry can obtain a continuous supply of provisions, and can use Liangzhou as a starting point to advance to other places."
Mu Zian nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
Because Dali lacked horses, it did not have an advantage in open field battles against the Xiongnu and could only defend its cities and wage a war of attrition.
When these Xiongnu people could no longer hold out, they would naturally withdraw.
However, having now received supplies from Fuling City, they no longer have any worries and can boldly launch attacks and sieges.
Mu Zian summoned Zhao Yun and instructed him to take his military order to Wuwei City for rendezvous after nightfall, and to enter the city at a later time.
Mu Zian's thousand cavalrymen were too few, so he had to launch a surprise attack and not expose himself too early.
Meanwhile, inside the camp of the Xiongnu vanguard.
Tiege was drinking heartily, with a fragrant roasted lamb in front of him.
He had a beautiful woman on each side of his arms, his rough hands rubbing back and forth on the women's smooth skin.
In front of Tie Ge, however, was Pei Shaochu with a fawning smile.
Even though one of the women in Tie Ge's arms was his wife, he dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Reporting to General Tiege, the number of scouts recently dispatched that have returned has been reduced."
"Among them, there was a team of 500 warriors who have not returned for a long time."
"In my opinion, it's possible that the Dali court has sent troops to reinforce us."
"Moreover, the grain and fodder looted from Fuling City in the past few days have been almost completely consumed."
After hearing Pei Shaochu's words, Helian Tiege pushed the woman in his arms away.
Then he viciously tore a piece of meat off the roasted lamb leg and began to chew it greedily.
Lamb fat dripped from the corner of his mouth down to his chest, Tie Ge said viciously.
"Are all you Han dogs born to be turtles? You don't even have the courage to fight me."
"You cowardly Han dogs, what right do you have to occupy those rich lands in the Central Plains?"
Tie Ge was also extremely frustrated.
After capturing Fuling City, he was brimming with confidence and immediately led 10,000 cavalry to attack Wuwei City.
They thought they could take it easily, but to their surprise, the defenders of Wuwei City chose to hold their ground and refused to come out of the city to fight.
While cavalry are invincible in open field battles, they are utterly helpless when it comes to sieges.
Although Tiege organized several attacks, they were all repelled by the defenders of Wuwei City.
The two sides were thus locked in a stalemate.
Tie Ge swallowed the mutton in his mouth whole, then let out a satisfied burp.
He immediately revealed a cruel and bloodthirsty smile.
"But don't worry, the Left Wise King has already learned of my situation."
"The divine artifact that the Left Wise King obtained from the Persians will arrive tomorrow. Even if Wuwei City before us is a turtle shell, this general can still pry it open!"
After saying that, Tie Ge looked at Pei Shaochu, who had a fawning smile on his face, with disdain.
"Right now, take those useless men and bring me a thousand Han Chinese!"
Pei Shaochu asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I wonder what use the general has for capturing those civilians?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud slap echoed!
Tie Ge's whip had already landed on Pei Shaochu's face.
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