The next day.
Ugh!
The horn's long, resounding cry echoed across the plains.
Fifty miles southeast of Manhan Mountain, by the Qingshui River.
Countless Southern Xiongnu people, covering the sky and the land, slowly approached.
Upon hearing the shocking news of his son's tragic death and the massacre of his followers, Qiangqu Chanyu rose in rebellion in anger.
He left behind a king named Guli, who led ten thousand men to guard the royal court and the men, women, and children of his tribe.
The remaining 50,000 cavalry were all mobilized.
Along the route from Meiji to Shanwu, cavalry from various tribes continuously came to gather.
When they reached Wucheng, a scout came to report.
Hu Chuquan, the Left Wise King of Yunzhong County, also arrived with 10,000 cavalrymen and has reached Wujin.
Upon hearing this, Qiangqu immediately issued an order for the cavalry units to continue their advance.
Fifty thousand Xiongnu cavalrymen swept across the land like locusts, leaving nothing but barren land in their wake.
The lawn by the Qingshui River was trampled into a muddy mess by countless horses' hooves.
"Your Majesty, Shanwu is only fifty li ahead. Our vanguard will arrive tonight!"
The Right Grand Commandant in charge of the march reported, "Should we expedite the march and order the vanguard to attack the city ahead of schedule?"
"I'm worried they'll get wind of this and run away!"
Qiangqu sneered: "According to intelligence, the vast majority of this prince's troops are infantry!"
"If our entire army is mobilized, and they defend the city, they may be able to prolong their lives for a few more days."
"If you dare to run away, we'll catch you within half a day!"
"Besides, didn't he make the arrogant claim that we should lead our troops to Manhan Mountain to surrender to him?"
"We're here now, let's see if he dares to come out and meet us."
The Right Grand Commandant said, "Your Majesty is wise. Then we will proceed with the original plan."
"The entire army will be able to reach the walls of Shanwu City by tomorrow morning."
"Um!"
"Qiang Canal, where are the Han troops escorting the salt and iron now?"
"Your Majesty, they have left Pianguan Pass and are on their way to Luo County!"
"Very good, everything has been arranged, right?" Qiangqu asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty, it was the Left Grand Commandant who led ten thousand cavalry to make the handover."
The Right Grand Commandant replied, "He will act in accordance with the King's will."
“If the Han soldiers escorting the goods cooperate and honestly hand over the salt and iron, we will let them go back.”
"If they start babbling, take action immediately and leave no one alive."
“That’s excellent!” Qiangqu nodded.
The two messengers said that the Han army that delivered the salt and iron would only hand over the goods after meeting with them.
Qiangqu then ordered the Left Grand Commandant to lead 10,000 men to escort the two envoys to the Han army.
To prevent the Han army from suddenly backing out, Qiangqu instructed them to prepare for the worst.
If anything unusual is detected, they will immediately begin robbing.
In any case, this time, by avenging his son, detaining the envoy, and starting a war with that prince who had been enfeoffed, he had already become an enemy of the Han Dynasty.
It would be better to strike first before the Han Dynasty learns of the news.
"Pass down the order: the entire army shall first reach the Qingshui River Valley southwest of Manhan Mountain and set up camp!"
"Once the Left Wise King's troops have all arrived, then we'll trample Shanwu with our horses!"
Qiangqu gave the order.
......
at the same time.
On the road from Pianguan to Luoxian, a thousand Han soldiers marched in a long, winding path.
Ding Yuan, an aide under Duan Jiong, the former governor of Bingzhou, rode a fine horse at the head of the procession.
Behind him on either side were his subordinates Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Yang!
Lü Bu was from Jiuyuan County, Zhang Liao was from Mayi County in Yanmen, and Zhang Yang was from Yunzhong County.
At this time, Ding Yuan had not yet become the governor of Bingzhou or the cavalry commander.
The three men under his command, Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Yang, were at most minor leaders like Qu Hou, serving under Ding Yuan.
Duan Jiong was recently transferred back to Luoyang to serve as Minister of Works, and the court sent Zhang Yi to succeed him as governor.
This made Ding Yuan very depressed.
Originally, Duan Jiong strongly recommended that Ding Yuan take over.
Little did anyone know that Zhang Yi had spent a fortune to buy his way into the position of Governor of Bingzhou.
Upon assuming office, Zhang Yi was immediately tasked with delivering salt and iron to the Xiongnu and winning over the Qiang people.
The troops in Bingzhou were few in number, and Emperor Ling of Han was worried that the Southern Xiongnu would take the opportunity to rebel while suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, so he agreed to send salt and iron to stabilize the situation first.
Let's talk about it after the Yellow Turban Rebellion is suppressed.
Zhang Yi knew that Ding Yuan was Duan Jiong's man, so he sent Ding Yuan to escort salt and iron.
Given the capricious nature of the Xiongnu, it would be best to let Ding Yuan die at their hands.
This way, Zhang Yi will have one less troublemaker, which will make it easier for him to have complete control in Bingzhou.
Ding Yuan knew Zhang Yi's thoughts all too well, and he knew even better the nature of the Qiangqu Chanyu.
For safety's sake, he brought along his three most formidable generals.
"My lord, so much salt and iron are just being given away to those wolf cubs of the Xiongnu for nothing."
"Once they get their hands on the iron and make it into weapons, they'll come back and rob the border."
"Isn't this aiding the enemy?"
Lu Bu said indignantly.
"Fengxian, this is the court's will, and we have no choice but to obey," Ding Yuan sighed and advised.
"My lord, when will we be able to take back Wuyuan?"
Lü Bu then said, "That place was clearly my hometown, but now it has become the territory of the Xiongnu."
"We had no choice but to move to Xihe with our families."
"Is the Han Dynasty of today still the same Han Dynasty that would punish anyone who offends it, no matter how far away they are?"
Zhang Yang also said angrily, "The Han people in Yunzhong are either forced to migrate inland or are being bullied by the Xiongnu. We can't even go to save them!"
"Several uncles in my family were captured by the Xiongnu and forced to herd sheep because they didn't have time to migrate inland."
Zhang Liao chimed in, "Let alone Jiuyuan, even Yunzhong!"
“My hometown, Mayi in Yanmen, was once a prosperous place with a large population and a major transportation hub for people traveling between the north and south. Now it has become a ghost town.”
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