With Tan Shihuai's death, the elite Gaoliu troops, terrified by the heavy cavalry, also chose to kneel and surrender.
Lu Bu, who was the first to catch up, also snatched Tan Shihuai's body and brought it to Liu Hong.
"Tan Shihuai, Tan Shihuai, no matter how ambitious you are, you were born in the wrong era. Meeting me destined you to tragedy!"
Liu Hong looked calmly at Tan Shihuai's corpse, as if he were talking to an old friend.
Huangfu Song stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this scoundrel Tan Shihuai has repeatedly harassed the borders of the Han Dynasty since the reign of Emperor Huan, killing countless people. I believe that his head should be beheaded and the news spread throughout the Han Dynasty to boost morale!"
"No need. The hearts of the people of our great Han Dynasty do not need the head of a barbarian from the grasslands to inspire them!"
Liu Hong waved his hand, rejecting Huangfu Song's suggestion, and then said, "Send someone to clean up Tan Shihuai's body, and then have those Xianbei prisoners send him back. That way, Wen You will have some leeway over there!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!!"
Huangfu Song respectfully agreed and then began to direct the soldiers to make arrangements.
At the same time, Wang Yue, Dian Wei, Gongsun Zan, and others led their respective soldiers to Liu Hong's side.
As these people retreated, most of the defeated Xianbei cavalry and able-bodied men, except for a few who surrendered, fled back and gathered around Helian.
Liu Hong did not say much about this situation.
The Han Dynasty today has no shortage of prisoners, and keeping more Xianbei people would be beneficial for the upcoming expulsion plan.
Thus, the decisive battle outside Juyan City officially came to an end.
Although the decisive battle is over, things are not over yet. For Liu Hong, the next step is to fulfill his long-cherished wish of drinking from the vast sea.
The Emperor of the Han Dynasty personally went to the vast sea and declared to Heaven and Earth that it would be permanently incorporated into the territory of the Han Dynasty.
This unprecedented feat is so inspiring that just thinking about it makes one's blood boil.
The city gates of Juyan slowly opened, and Cao Song and others, who had been watching the battle from the city walls, led the people and students in the city to welcome the victorious emperor.
For them, in this decisive battle, the Han soldiers, despite being outnumbered, still swept away the enemy with overwhelming force, truly showing them what it meant to be "one Han soldier against five Hu soldiers".
The strength of the Han army instilled in everyone an inexplicable sense of confidence and belonging.
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, commanding the entire army to decisively defeat the Xianbei army. From now on, the border regions of our Great Han will enjoy eternal peace. I congratulate the Great Han and Your Majesty!!"
Your Majesty's achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and even Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han; you are truly a great emperor for all time!
As soon as Cao Song, who was leading the group, arrived in front of Liu Hong, he began to flatter him.
"We, your humble servants, offer our congratulations to the Great Han Dynasty! We offer our congratulations to Your Majesty!!"
The other officials followed suit and congratulated Liu Hong.
Liu Hong didn't actually have much to boast about in this decisive battle, but everyone present attributed all the credit to him, including Huangfu Song, who was the commander-in-chief.
Everyone believes that since the emperor ascended the throne, he has reformed the country, improved people's livelihoods, and now the Han Dynasty is strong and powerful, all thanks to the emperor's wise leadership.
Therefore, for everyone, without the emperor there would have been no victory, and it was only natural that the emperor deserved the greatest credit.
As night fell, the entire city of Juyan was brightly lit, and the soldiers and civilians of the city were celebrating their victory.
Everyone brought out food and wine from their homes and set them out in front of their courtyards and on the streets.
People in the city, whether they knew each other or not, were all smiles, raising their glasses to drink and exchanging congratulatory words.
Meanwhile, Liu Hong hosted a lavish banquet at the prefectural governor's mansion for a group of officials and military officers.
Inside the prefectural governor's mansion, those participating in the victory celebration banquet were all beaming with joy, constantly shouting and raising their glasses to each other.
For everyone present, being able to witness and participate in this historic battle was an unparalleled honor, enough to bring glory to their ancestors.
While the Han soldiers and civilians were celebrating in Juyan City, a desolate atmosphere pervaded the Xianbei camp a hundred miles north of the city.
"Father, look at your son!"
Inside the central command tent, He Lian, draped in hemp cloth, knelt beside Tan Shihuai's corpse, wailing incessantly.
Li Ru, kneeling behind He Lian, also looked pained, constantly wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes.
After a long while, He Lian's crying finally stopped.
He Lian knelt there, staring blankly at his father's corpse, his eyes devoid of light.
He simply couldn't understand how his father, who had been radiant and full of energy with no new injuries, could have suddenly died.
In his eyes, his father had always been a heroic figure who rose from humble beginnings to achieve great fame. It was impossible for him to die from a sudden heart attack due to a single failure.
"Young Master, now that the King is gone and our tribe has suffered such a crushing defeat, you should first seize the throne, stabilize the morale of the army, and preserve the last embers of the Xianbei!"
Just as Lian was deep in thought, Li Ru's voice reached his ears, pulling him back from his confusion.
"Sir, my father has just passed away, and I am in a state of great confusion. Let's talk about those things later!"
Despite Li Ru's advice, He Lian shook his head, still looking at his father's corpse with a sorrowful expression.
"He Lian!!"
Upon seeing this, Li Ru suddenly stood up and glared angrily at He Lian.
Hearing Li Ru's loud shout, Lian Muran turned his head.
"Sir...you?"
Upon seeing Li Ru's indignant expression, He Lian's previously sorrowful expression softened slightly, and she looked at Li Ru with some confusion.
Li Ru bowed to Tan Shihuai's corpse, then looked at He Lian with a solemn expression and said in a deep voice:
"Young Master, I am equally heartbroken at the King's departure, and I wish I could go with him."
However, the great cause that Your Majesty has pursued throughout your life has not yet been completed. I can only continue to live on and do my best to assist the prince in order to repay Your Majesty's kindness.
But look at yourself now! How can you face the King's years of nurturing and raising you? How can the King's spirit rest in peace?
Remember, you are the son of Tan Shihuai, the hero of the grasslands. What you must do now is to carry on the king's last wishes and develop and strengthen the Xianbei people.
Only in this way can you be worthy of the blood flowing in your veins and worthy of the King's kindness!
"If you still cannot wake up and pull yourself together, then I will have no choice but to abandon you and follow the King!"
As he spoke, Li Ru turned and walked toward the weapon rack to the side, then drew a curved sword and held it to his neck.
"No...sir, please don't!"
Upon seeing this, He Lian hurriedly shouted, then got up and pounced over, snatching the curved knife from Li Ru's hand.
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