A thin mist shrouded the Mucangjiang Gorge in the eastern part of the Southern Xiongnu, giving this fertile and watery land a mysterious veil.
The Mucang River was the mother river of the eastern tribes of the Southern Xiongnu. It meandered for hundreds of miles from east to west, with rapid and turbulent waters. It provided sustenance for the tribes that grazed their livestock and lived by the water in this area, and nurtured the most powerful Xiongnu knights on the grassland.
Today, the Mucangjiang Canyon is filled with a somber atmosphere.
After Tuqi Chanyu was captured by the Daqian army, the chieftain Yilimu rallied the cavalry of various tribes, declared himself Chanyu, and led the last cavalry force of the Southern Xiongnu, numbering about 10,000, to fight the Daqian army in a final battle.
"General Zhang, it's time."
Ma Yuxiang put down his binoculars, sat on his motorcycle, and spoke to a general in front of him.
The general in front of him was clad in armor, with a face as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, and a long beard. He rode a chestnut-colored horse. This man was Zhang Chaozong.
Zhang Chaozong didn't carry binoculars or ride a motorcycle. He had a golden sword at his waist and a crossbow on his back. The crossbow was cool and exquisite in appearance, but it was the composite bow issued by Qin Chuan.
"General Ma, I never imagined that after guarding the border for more than ten years, we would finally witness the destruction of the Southern Xiongnu..."
Zhang Chaozong gazed at the Mucangjiang Canyon and spoke with a touch of emotion.
Ma Yuxiang couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, it's all because of the Prince of Yan. Without him, our dynasty would have suffered humiliation at the hands of the Xiongnu for many more years. The Prince of Yan, with 30,000 infantrymen, crushed 100,000 light cavalry of the Southern Xiongnu. He truly deserves to be called a god of war and a military genius!"
Zhang Chaozong's eyes were filled with determination. "His Highness the Prince of Yan once wrote a poem, which I'm sure you're familiar with..."
"Hehe," Ma Yuxiang laughed, "The General must be referring to that poem 'Man Jiang Hong,' right?"
Zhang Chaozong did not respond, but merely spurred his mount forward two steps. His gaze, sharp as a knife, fixed on the last remaining resistance force of the Southern Xiongnu, led by Ilimu, which was surrounded below. He then began to recite aloud:
"My hair stands on end in anger, I lean against the railing, the rain has just stopped..."
"Raising my eyes, I look up to the sky and roar, my heart filled with intense emotions."
As he recited this, Zhang Chaozong drew his golden sword, its blade reflecting a dazzling light in the morning sun!
"Soldiers! Charge!"
At his command, more than 130,000 soldiers, including generals, cavalry, and infantrymen from all the border posts in the north, sprang into action and charged toward the center of the canyon!
The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, Ilimu, showed no fear in his eyes. He mounted his horse, drew his scimitar, raised it above his head, and shouted, "I am willing to offer my blood as a sacrifice to the grasslands! The Xiongnu will never surrender!"
"Ready for battle!"
With a shout from Yilimu, the last knightly legion cobbled together by the various tribes of the Southern Xiongnu finally faced its final battle!
With fearless eyes and a death wish, the steppe cavalrymen spurred their horses, grabbed their bows, and attempted a final counterattack...
However, the 30,000 composite bows they had deployed gave the Xiongnu no chance to retaliate. The steel arrows rained down like a dense, overwhelming storm...
Watching the cavalrymen fall one by one, Ilimu showed no panic, as if he had expected this outcome.
In just one month, he had clashed with the Daqian army several times and had seen their powerful bows and iron horses on several occasions. He had already foreseen this inevitable defeat.
However, he still wanted to do something for the grasslands. The Xiongnu did not have a tradition of recording history, but for some heroes, the Xiongnu would turn their deeds into songs and sing them from time to time...
"I, Yilimu, want to be the eagle of the grasslands, to be the hero of the grasslands. I wish that someone would die for me on the battlefield, and that my story would be sung and passed down through generations..."
As Eli gazed at the eagles circling in the sky, he thought to himself.
Then, he took the lead and sprinted to the front.
Seeing that the Chanyu was leading the charge, the last of the Xiongnu cavalrymen followed closely behind, charging fiercely towards the main army.
"Thirty years of fame and glory are but dust and dirt, eight thousand miles of clouds and moon."
When Zhang Chaozong led his troops to within fifty paces of the Xiongnu, Da Ganfang stopped using composite bows, knowing that this battle was no longer necessary and not wanting to harm his own men. So they all took out their swords, spears, and halberds, deciding to engage the Xiongnu in close combat.
The reason for choosing close combat was to shatter the last vestiges of pride and confidence among the Xiongnu people...
Moreover, with 130,000 against a few thousand, even in close combat, there wouldn't be many casualties.
"Don't let your youth slip away in vain, only to regret it later!"
Zhang Chaozong, alone on horseback, was the first to encounter the Xiongnu soldiers. At such close range, bows and arrows were useless, so both sides took out their melee weapons and engaged in close combat, sparks flying everywhere!
The sword met the saber with a sharp slash. As the blade collided, Zhang Chaozong's resolute eyes were fixed on the movements of the Xiongnu man before him. Then, with a twist of the blade, a flash of cold light appeared, and in an instant, the tip of the sword pierced through the Xiongnu man's neck...
Zhang Chaozong's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He forcefully pulled the sword out, and the Xiongnu man tried to block the gushing blood from his neck with his hands, but he collapsed with a dazed look in his eyes...
"The shame of the past century has yet to be avenged!"
Upon reciting this line, Zhang Chaozong subconsciously changed the words from "the shame of Jingkang" to "a century of shame," which immediately weakened his momentum, and his hand movements relaxed slightly.
Just then, Ilimu approached him.
"Okay, okay!"
Zhang Chaozong laughed loudly, twirling his sword as he stared coldly at Ilimu, who was facing him.
"Today, I, the general, will shatter your last shred of pathetic pride!"
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