Chapter 103 Extra 3
The former destroyed the Xiongnu camp and burned the food and grass there, resulting in more than half of the Xiongnu soldiers left behind being killed or wounded.
The latter was even more remarkable, launching an all-out attack with remarkable success. Chanyu Yizhixie led an army of 300,000 men in battle formation, but in the end, they were left in the dust, with over half of their troops killed, tens of thousands captured, and an estimated eight or nine out of ten fleeing in the chaos.
Most of these people are injured. They may not survive if they escape, and they may not be able to fight if they survive. I am afraid that many of them will become "old, weak, sick and disabled".
Huo Qubing pursued the Chanyu for hundreds of miles, killing Zuo Xian Wang, Beiche Ji Wang and a number of generals and captains, including dozens of well-known and well-known Xiongnu people; Wei Qing even cut off the Chanyu's retreat and captured Yizhixie alive.
Liu Juteng stood up and laughed: "Well done, cousin! Uncle is still as good as ever!"
The sword is still...old?
Huo Guang, who came to report the news, raised his eyebrows slightly and subconsciously looked at Wei Buyi beside him. Wei Buyi shrugged calmly, with an expression that said, "It's not me who said it, nor is it about me, what the hell does it have to do with me."
Huo Guang looked up at the sky in silence.
"Walk."
Liu Ju waved his hand and walked out the door.
At this moment, all the generals were in the commander's tent. Before they even entered, they heard hearty laughter: "Haha, this time the Xiongnu's main force has been completely defeated by us. They are seriously injured. I'm afraid it will take them twenty years, not ten, to recover."
What does this mean? It means that the Xiongnu have lost their source of pride and are no longer a threat to them.
They did it, and achieved success in one fell swoop.
Liu Ju walked in with a smile: "Uncle, I heard that you captured Yizhixie?"
Everyone stepped forward and saluted. Wei Qing replied, "Yes, Your Highness, would you like to see me?"
Liu Ju nodded quickly. His uncle really understood him. Wasn't this what he came for?
When Yizhixie was brought up, Liu Ju discovered that his clothes were almost stained with blood. He didn't know how much of the glaring red was from others and how much was his own.
The other injuries cannot be seen from this perspective, but the wound on the left arm is bloody and shocking, obviously caused by a gunpowder bullet.
This nearly nine-foot-tall man, who had challenged Liu Ju to a duel yesterday, was full of energy and vigor. But now he was so weak that he could hardly walk, and each step was very slow.
Even so, he still forced himself to stand up straight, his eyes showing authority, unwilling to show any weakness.
"Give the Chanyu a seat."
Someone brought up a chair. Liu Ju sat at the main seat in the commander's tent, facing Yi Zhi, who was standing diagonally below him, with several great "protectors" gathered on either side.
Liu Ju
He curled his lips and said, "I wonder what the Chanyu thinks of this great gift from me? I have warned you that it is a bit large and requires careful preparation and acceptance." But the Chanyu did not seem to listen.
"As expected, I suffered the consequences of not understanding Han culture. That day, I discussed many Han rules with the Chanyu, but I seem to have forgotten the most important one, which is that as a human being, you must listen to advice."
How could Yizhixie not know that the talk about Han culture and non-Han culture was purely to squeeze him? He snorted, shot a glare at Liu Ju, and said nothing.
Liu Ju was not annoyed, but continued to smile: "No problem, I can give the Chanyu another chance to choose. The 'peace letter' I sent last time is still valid. I wonder if the Chanyu is willing to negotiate now?"
"I would rather be killed than humiliated. Now that you have won, you can kill me or chop me up as you please, but it is absolutely impossible for me to sign such a treaty." Yizhixie's eyes were ferocious. He was not afraid of death, so how could he bow his head?
As expected, Liu Ju was not disappointed. He said calmly, "If the Chanyu doesn't want peace, does that mean he wants to fight again? Chanyu, do you think the Xiongnu still have the strength to fight?"
Yizhixie's lips moved in and out, but he couldn't utter a word.
Because he knew, no. Not only now, not in the next five years, not in the next ten years, as long as the Han had gunpowder bombs, they would not have them.
The calm and defiant look on his face disappeared, and Yizhixie's face instantly turned ashen.
Some things can't be rushed. Liu Ju said, "You don't need to reply now, Chanyu. Think about it carefully. Come, please ask the Chanyu to go down. Prepare a place for him to rest and send a military doctor to see and treat his injuries."
The monarch of a country can be killed but not humiliated, even if the army is defeated.
After Yizhixie was taken away, Liu Ju left his tent and wandered around the camp. However, the soldiers in the camp were all busy with their own affairs, and only Huo Guang and Wei Buyi, two "idlers", could accompany him.
After walking around for half a day, Liu Ju was really bored and suggested going to the battlefield to take a look.
Huo Guang and Wei Buyi responded without hesitation, so they reported to Wei Qing and followed Liu Ju out of the camp with their men.
Arriving at his destination, standing where he had stood yesterday, Liu Ju was a little stunned. In just one day, the place had changed drastically. The green grass was gone, and all he could see was scorched earth.
Blood was scattered all over the scorched earth, and the dried blood mixed with the soil, dyeing it a glaring crimson.
Corpses were lying on the blood-red mud. Some of the "lucky" ones were still intact; some of the "unlucky" ones were covered in blood and flesh, with limbs missing, and their original appearance could no longer be seen.
To sum it up in three words: rivers of blood, corpses everywhere, and devastation.
This is
Most of the casualties were on enemy territory, and our own casualties were minimal. Liu Ju felt he should be happy. When he heard about the victory in the camp, he was indeed happy.
But when he really saw the scene before him, he suddenly felt unhappy. An unknown feeling sprouted in his heart, heavy and heavy.
After a long pause, he said, "Send an envoy to deliver a message to the Xiongnu, asking them to come and collect the bodies."
Huo Guangwei was stunned.
Liu Ju looked at the corpses and said, "We have a deep blood feud with the Xiongnu. This feud is between nations and has nothing to do with them.
"They were all ordinary soldiers, following orders. As Xiongnu warriors, it was their mission to die for them. They were not wrong, they just stood on a different side from us.
"It is true that soldiers should be prepared to die on the battlefield from the moment they step into the barracks.
"But having sacrificed their lives for their country, their bodies deserve to be properly treated, collected by their compatriots and buried by their loved ones, rather than falling into the hands of the enemy and being buried in random pits, or left to languish in the wilderness, to be torn apart by wild beasts and eaten by vultures."
Huo Guangwei understood without a doubt, but he had concerns: "The Xiongnu might not believe it. I'm afraid they might think we are deliberately luring them into a trap and then ambushing them."
Liu Ju's eyes flickered. "The Xiongnu's main force is gone, but our Han still has the sacred artifact. Is there any need to set a trap under a false pretext?"
Huo Guangwei paused without a doubt, as if it was indeed unnecessary.
"Tell them, I am the crown prince of a country. I keep my word. If I tell them to collect the bodies, I will do so. I will not do anything else unless they provoke me first."
Huo Guangwei nodded without hesitation, and ordered someone to send a message back to the camp to inform Wei Qing, and ordered the general to send someone to do it. He still stayed by Liu Ju's side.
Liu Ju stood there, motionless, feeling the complex emotions churning in his heart and the surging blood.
After a long time, he made a decision: "After this matter is settled, I will report to my father and ask him to seal the gunpowder and not to release it again unless necessary."
Huo Guangwei was slightly surprised: "Your Highness?"
Liu Ju's expression was resolute. "Huo Guang, no doubt about it. My original intention in developing gunpowder was to protect my country and my homeland, to help my Han Dynasty eliminate threats, to prevent foreign invaders from disturbing me, and to ensure peace and prosperity for my Han Dynasty."
"Some wars are unavoidable, like the Xiongnu. We can only defeat them and subdue them so that they will no longer be a threat to us. But after this battle, our threat is gone.
"Sometimes gunpowder doesn't have to be used; it just needs to be there to deter. It's a tool for self-defense, but it shouldn't be a weapon of aggression."
Liu Ju gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
He didn't want the gunpowder he personally developed to become a global disaster and be demonized. He wanted the Han Dynasty to become the world's hegemon, but this "hegemony" should be positive.
It should be praised, admired, and respected by others, and of course it can also be feared, but it should not be resented, hated, or hostile.
Huo Guangwei glanced at each other without hesitation and bowed, saying, "Your Highness is kind and benevolent."
Liu Ju shook his head slightly. He knew this wasn't kindness. Gunpowder was different from other things; it was a double-edged sword. He was born into this world, and he had the responsibility to control it.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Ju returned to the camp with a heavy heart.
Two days later, the Xiongnu sent people to collect the bodies. Liu Ju watched from a distance on a nearby hilltop, but did not approach. Beside him was Yizhixie.
At this moment, Yizhixie's eyes were red as he looked at the shocking scene after the war in front of him. Thinking of the situation at that time, his eyes were about to pop out.
He gritted his teeth and said, "Prince, what is your purpose in bringing me to see this? Are you showing off your achievements by showing off the plight of our army, or are you showing off your kindness by letting our army collect their bodies?"
"Neither." Liu Ju shook his head. "I just want to let the Chanyu know. I don't have the intention to kill everyone. As long as the Chanyu is willing to negotiate, the two sides can reach a truce. If the Chanyu insists on his own way..."
Liu Ju pointed to the battlefield and asked: "Can Chanyu bear to see such a situation happen again?"
Yizhixie's face turned pale. Liu Ju was forcing him to choose between submission and the destruction of his country.
At this moment, Yizhixie's murderous intent towards Liu Ju was unprecedentedly high. As he had expected, Liu Ju was the greatest threat to the Xiongnu, even more so than the Emperor of Han.
If it weren't for Liu Ju, how could the Huns have reached this point?
He truly wished he could risk his life to kill the other person. But he couldn't. Not to mention the numerous "guardians" around Liu Ju, just his current injuries made it likely he wouldn't be able to launch a single attack.
Yizhixie closed his eyes and refused to look Liu Ju in the eye.
He no longer talked to Liu Ju.
Liu Ju withdrew his gaze and stopped talking.
There were too many bodies to collect in one day. The Xiongnu were busy for several days, so Liu Ju took Yizhixie to watch from a nearby hilltop for several days. They kept going without a break.
On the last day, the Xiongnu minister in charge of collecting the bodies proposed to the person who "supervised" their work to meet with Liu Ju. Liu Ju nodded and ordered the guards to bring the person to him.
Seeing Yizhixie's excited expression, the minister controlled his temper and greeted Liu Ju, explaining his purpose. "Thank you, Your Highness, for allowing us to collect the remains of the soldiers. But how can Your Highness release the Chanyu?"
"You can release it now."
When these words were spoken, the ministers and Yizhixie were stunned.
The Han army officers and soldiers were even more surprised: "Your Highness."
As if to remind him that the Chanyu must not be taken lightly. Liu Ju raised his hand to interrupt: "It's alright, I know what's going on. If the emperor investigates, I will bear the responsibility."
Then he turned to Yizhixie and said, "I hope the Chanyu will consider what I have said. Our envoys will arrive at the Chanyu in about seven days, which is still seven days away."
After saying that, he waved his hand and ordered: "Go!"
He turned around and left with a group of Han soldiers, leaving Yizhixie behind without doing anything.
The Xiongnu ministers were very surprised that Yizhixie had a gloomy face.
What Liu Ju said was true.
Peace talks naturally require dedicated personnel. He didn't want to tire himself out with everything. The generals in the camp, though, might not be so adept at negotiating peace talks while fighting. Especially since they were already exhausted from fighting, why add to their workload beyond their duties?
If they do everything, what is the use of the Honglu Temple?
Therefore, on the day the battle was decided, Liu Ju sent an urgent report to Liu Che.
As he expected, Liu Che sent the Grand Herald over.
Liu Ju readily handed over the "peace letter" he had written to the other party.
The Grand Herald was astonished: "Your Highness, do you want me to discuss this?"
"Not really." Liu Ju shook his head. "I wrote this to provoke Yizhixie, not for formal peace talks. But there are a few points in it that cannot be compromised, and I've circled them. My father must have given you instructions before you set out. The rest is up to you."
The Grand Herald thought for a moment and came to an understanding, then bowed and accepted the order: "Yes."
Liu Ju waved him off and turned to lie down on the bed, becoming a hands-off manager. Every day he ate, drank, raced, and chatted with the soldiers.
After several days, the peace agreement was signed.
The final terms were almost the same as what he had listed, and he finally signed this document, which Yizhixie considered a great humiliation.
However, according to the Grand Herald, Yizhixie spat out a mouthful of blood as soon as he put pen to paper, and was almost carried away. He was probably dying.
Sure enough, three days later, news came that Yizhixie had died and his son succeeded him and was named Wuwei Chanyu.
Liu Ju's expression was indifferent. The Grand Herald asked suspiciously, "Your Highness, have you already guessed this outcome?"
"Yizhixie was seriously injured at the time. The military doctor said that even if he was properly nursed back to health, he would only be able to survive for a year or two at most. If he couldn't recover properly, he could die sooner at any time."
The Grand Herald paused:
So, Your Highness is relieved to let him go back?"
Liu Ju laughed: "No. Whether he returns or not, does it matter who becomes Chanyu to the current situation?"
The Grand Herald was speechless, seemingly making little difference. Who would dare challenge them now? Not Yizhixie, not Wuwei, not the Xiongnu, and perhaps even the royal family and ministers who were lucky enough to do so.
"Submission and destruction seem like a choice, but in reality, there is no choice." Liu Ju sighed. "Someone has to sign this peace agreement. If it's not Yizhixie, it can only be Wu Wei.
"As Chanyu, Yizhixie should shoulder his responsibilities. No matter how reluctant he is, he should have the wisdom to realize that this is the only solution at the moment and the best solution for the Xiongnu.
"As long as he still remembered that he was the Chanyu and considered the remaining Xiongnu soldiers and civilians, he would not have escaped.
"He is also Uwe's father. He shouldn't have to bear the pressure and humiliation that a father should bear on his son.
"So whether it's Yu Jun or Yu Fu, he has to take the full responsibility.
"But he was such a proud man that in his early years he even considered leading his army south to attack the Han people. Now that he's been reduced to this state, how can he bear it? His emotions were surging, and his injuries naturally didn't improve, but instead became more severe.
"Even if he hadn't been injured, he probably wouldn't have survived. His pride wouldn't allow it."
Liu Ju shook his head and sighed again. But it was just a sigh. His kindness was for the innocent people who just wanted to live a peaceful life; for the ordinary soldiers who had no control over the decisions and could only follow orders; never for the enemy.
His heart was very cold and hard towards his enemies.
However, he will still give the necessary respect and affirmation.
Liu Ju placed one hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and faced the direction of the Xiongnu royal court, performing the Xiongnu etiquette as a farewell to Yizhixie.
Then he ordered, "Everything has been decided. Send the order to prepare to move camp and return to the capital."
But he still had one thing to do before returning to Beijing.
Liu Ju came to the battlefield again and watched with his own eyes as Huo Qubing planted a huge Han army flag on the devastated scorched earth.
Apart from collecting the bodies, no other cleanup was done here and the traces of the war remained intact.
Liu Ju had already spread the news of this battle throughout the world, and the Western Regions countries would surely send people to the battle, and curious people from the public would also come.
He wanted everyone to see the horror of this battle.
Only in this way can the name of gunpowder be spread far and wide and its effect of shocking the world can be achieved without the emergence of gunpowder.
On the way back down the mountain, Liu Ju looked back at the striking red flag on the scorched earth, watching it flutter in the wind. He asked with emotion, "Does this place have a name?"
Huo Qubing thought for a moment and said, "I haven't heard the exact name of the place, but this mountain range is called Langjuxu."
Wolf Mountain?
Liu Ju was stunned and subconsciously glanced at the mention of Fenglangjuxu in Huo Qubing's comment. Was it such a coincidence?
Liu Ju blinked and raised the corners of his lips.
very nice.
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