Longxi, the Qin army camp.
"Report!" A scout galloped in, "Grand Commandant, we've obtained information about the remnants of the Yuezhi. They've split into dozens of tribes and are migrating northwest. The largest group, numbering about 50,000, is currently resting in the Muma Valley area."
"What about the other tribes?" The wicked man put down the bamboo slips in his hand.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, three groups have been discovered in the northern grasslands, each numbering over ten thousand. Four groups, totaling approximately twenty thousand, are hidden in the southern valleys. There are also more than ten small tribes scattered throughout various oases, their numbers unknown."
Since the Yuezhi king was killed in the war in the Western Regions, these remnants have been wandering around. Some have fled into the desert, and some have hidden in the valleys, temporarily escaping the pursuit thanks to the mobility of nomadic peoples.
"Finally, you've arrived." The wicked man sneered, strode to the sand table, and said, "Mark all the exact locations."
The scouts planted small flags on the sand table, representing the locations of the various Yuezhi tribes. Soon, a complete map of the situation was presented to everyone.
"Grand Commandant," Zhang Erhe analyzed, "Although these tribes are scattered, they are all moving northwest. I believe they intend to seek refuge in the former territory of the Yuezhi..."
"Hmph!" the wicked man sneered. "These nomadic bastards have certainly got a good plan. But..."
He traced his finger across the sand table: "Now that we know their intentions, things are much easier. Order the troops to prepare for attack!"
The battle plan was quickly finalized.
Meng Tian led 50,000 elite troops out of Longxi, heading straight for the largest tribe. Wang Li led 30,000 troops to encircle them from the south, cutting off their retreat route through the valleys. Zhang Erhe, meanwhile, led 20,000 cavalry to lay a trap across the northern grasslands.
In addition, the wicked ruler dispatched dozens of small teams specifically to search for the small tribes hidden in the oases. This time, he intended to wipe the Yuezhi completely from this land!
Muma Valley, the Yuezhi camp.
As night fell, wisps of smoke rose from the camp. After half a month of migration, the tribe had finally found a suitable place to graze their livestock.
"My lord," a chieftain reported to the tribal high priest, "scouts have been sent out, but so far no trace of the Qin army has been found. It seems we've shaken them off."
The high priest looked up at the sky and sighed, "I hope so. Too many have died and been wounded these past few days, and our people are utterly exhausted. If we could rest here for a few days..."
Before he could finish speaking, a mournful horn blared outside the camp!
"not good!"
Before they could react, a dense rain of arrows poured down from all directions. Thousands of soldiers opened fire simultaneously, instantly turning the outer tents into sieves.
"Enemy attack! Retreat immediately!"
Although the Yuezhi people were accustomed to migration, there were many elderly, weak, women and children in their camps.
Cries and screams rose and fell, and people were running around in panic.
"Stop in disarray!" the high priest roared. "Warriors, form ranks and cover the retreat of our people!"
Unfortunately, it was too late. Meng Tian's army had already surrounded them from all sides, and nearly 100,000 arrows had woven a net of death.
Those soldiers who tried to break through were riddled with arrows, and women and children who tried to escape were shot down by a hail of arrows. Many more were trampled into a bloody pulp by horses' hooves in the chaos, without even having time to cry out.
"Surrender! We surrender!" Some leaders knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Surrender?" Meng Tian sneered. "The wicked Grand Commandant is right. You nomadic bastards will always be a major threat to Qin. Today, let the entire Yuezhi tribe be buried here with us!"
"Fire! Keep firing! Leave no one alive!"
A dense rain of arrows blanketed the entire camp. Not only men, but even livestock were not spared. Their prized warhorses were riddled with bullets, and herds of cattle and sheep fell, their mournful cries echoing throughout the land.
Some tried to hide in tents, but were set ablaze by rockets and burned alive. Others attempted to escape into the valley, but were intercepted by the Qin army, who had been lying in ambush, and hacked to death.
The stench of blood quickly filled the air. The once prosperous nomadic tribe was transformed into a hellish scene overnight.
By daybreak, the entire camp had been reduced to scorched earth. Corpses lay scattered across the ground, and blood formed streams that meandered among the ruins.
"Take a headcount!"
"Reporting to the General, in this battle, over 48,000 Yuezhi people were killed, including men, women, and children. The remaining fewer than 2,000 have already fled into the desert."
Meng Tian nodded: "Send the order: pile up all the corpses and burn them. Remember, burn their tents and belongings as well. Leave no trace whatsoever!"
Just then, another scout rode up at full speed: "General! Good news has arrived from the northern grasslands. General Zhang has intercepted three tribes and is now launching an encirclement and annihilation campaign..."
Meanwhile, in the northern grasslands.
Zhang Erhe's cavalry pounced on the unsuspecting Yuezhi tribe like hungry wolves.
"Release the arrows!"
A dense rain of arrows blanketed the entire grassland. Those Yuezhi people who tried to escape on horseback hadn't gone far before they were shot off their horses by the volley of arrows.
Some tried to escape under the cover of night, but the rockets set the grassland ablaze. Instantly, flames soared into the sky, turning the entire grassland into a sea of fire.
"Ah! Help!"
Amidst piercing screams, countless people were burned alive. Those who managed to escape the inferno were also cut down by the waiting Qin army.
"Keep chasing! Leave no one alive!" Zhang Erhe urged his troops on horseback. "These nomadic tribes are masters of guerrilla warfare. Today, we'll teach them a lesson in true massacre!"
Southern Valley.
Wang Li's forces have blocked all escape routes.
"Release the arrows!"
The improved "swarm" formation proved its most effective in this terrain. The dense rain of arrows sealed off the entire valley entrance, preventing even birds from escaping.
Those Yuezhi people who tried to hide in the caves were driven out by the Qin army with fire and then hacked to death.
Many more people were trampled to death in the chaos, and piles of mangled corpses lay in heaps.
For a whole month, the Qin army's pursuit never stopped.
Those scattered and fleeing small tribes were found one by one, and no matter whether they hid in oases or valleys, they could not escape the fate of extermination.
The Qin army was exceptionally ruthless. They not only wanted to exterminate all the Yuezhi people, but also slaughter their livestock, on which they depended for survival. They even burned their tents and belongings.
All traces of a nomadic tribe must be completely erased from this land!
One month later, at the Longxi camp.
The wicked man stood on the high platform, receiving reports from various generals.
"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, all the Yuezhi tribes have been annihilated. A total of over 120,000 people were killed, including men, women, and children. In addition, over 200,000 warhorses and countless cattle and sheep were captured."
"Excellent!" The wicked man nodded in satisfaction. "Send the order to send all the warhorses to Guanzhong. As for the cattle and sheep..."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Slaughter them all! I want these nomadic tribes to understand that this grassland henceforth belongs solely to Great Qin!"
As the sun sets, it paints this land, once teeming with nomadic peoples, red with color.
The wicked man stood on the high platform, gazing into the distance.
This battle completely wiped out the Yuezhi's existence and made all nomadic tribes understand a lesson.
Anyone who opposes the Great Qin will be annihilated!
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