104 The Final Battle (Part 3)
◎Huo Qubing: I am invincible, do as you please.◎
Jiaodong.
Du Zhou received a summons from Sima Qian late at night and hurried over with Wei Bu.
"Sir, what happened?"
As soon as Wei Bujiang had closed the door, the two men hurried to find Sima Qian. They hurried past the screen and looked up to see Sima Qian lying on a soft couch beside the screen, with a piece of silk book stuck to his face.
The silk book rippled slightly with his breathing.
Du Zhou had no idea what was wrong with the prefect, so he could only grab the silk book and try to talk to Sima Qian. It didn't matter if he just grabbed it, but as soon as he touched it, he realized that the silk book was unusual. It felt as warm and slightly cool as fine silk. He looked at it carefully in the direction of the shaking oil lamp, and it felt as if he had intercepted some water with his hands.
Wei Bu was also curious. He asked Sima Qian, "Was it given by Ah Yan?"
When they got such fine satin, they would make clothes, and only cut the leftovers into handkerchiefs. But Ah Yan never cared about the quality or value of the satin; he would only make handkerchiefs from anything he liked. That was why he asked this question.
It would have been fine if he hadn't asked, but when he did, Sima Qian sighed. "It would have been better if it was a gift from Ah Yan."
His words were filled with annoyance, leaving Wei Bu bewildered. Fortunately, Du Zhou finished reading quickly. He placed the silk scroll on his desk, brow furrowed. "The Tian, Xu, and Chen families have jointly invited Brother Sima to a dinner at Wang's villa tomorrow. They say... we're going to discuss salt policy and put aside past grudges."
Sima Qian added, "His words were extremely humble, and his attitude was very low."
Wei Bu frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Let go of past grudges? Discuss salt policy together? When did that old fox Tian Ben become so understanding and righteous?"
Du Zhou read through it carefully, his eyes sharp as a knife. "Lieutenant, a tiger retracts its claws not out of mercy, but ready to strike. A wolf crouches, not in submission, but only to pounce on you with a more deadly attack. Their humility at this moment is nothing but poison that paralyzes you and me. This banquet is like a sea of fire and swords. You must not go!"
Sima Qian sighed, "They have deep roots and have been entrenched in Jiaodong for decades. Their students and former officials are spread throughout the prefectures and counties. If we openly reject them, we might provoke them to change, which would be disastrous. Now that the salt administration is just being established, its foundation is not yet stable...why don't I...how about pretending to be accommodating?"
Du Zhou shook his head and urged him not to go.
The two sides were arguing and looking at Wei Bu. Wei Bu was gentle by nature and hated conflict. He really didn't understand, so he said, "Then I'll go too."
He rubbed his hands and whispered, "I'll bring some elite soldiers with me for protection. I don't think they'll dare to do anything during the banquet."
Du Zhou observed the hope for a peaceful resolution in Wei Bu's eyes and sighed inwardly: Huo Yan had predicted just as he had. Wei Bu was a good man, a skilled warrior, and Huo Yan had sent him to protect Sima Qian because of his loyalty and reliability. However, this excessive gentleness, in such a precarious place, could sometimes become a hindrance.
"Lieutenant Wei, Grand Administrator Sima, before your departure, your Excellency instructed us to discuss matters carefully and prioritize safety." His voice was steady and resolute. "Besides, if they truly wish to discuss the salt policy, why not do it openly in this office lobby? Why choose that Wang family? There must be something fishy going on! Hesitating when necessary will only lead to further chaos! You absolutely cannot attend this banquet! I've never heard of a pearl being cast aside by a prostitute!"
Wei Bu's face felt a little hot after hearing what he said, and he said hesitantly, "Then I won't go."
An oil lamp flickered.
The wind is blowing again.
"You all come from Chang'an, so you must have heard Ah Yan's theory of throwing pearls into darkness." Sima Qian picked up a wick, and the flame suddenly grew brighter. He looked out the window at the dark, roaring sea, his tone filled with the stubbornness unique to scholars. "Although this place is dark, how can those in power be afraid? If we can negotiate with them to allow salt and iron to flow through Jiaodong, and the profits go to the court, then the people will benefit and the treasury will be filled. This is the right way to enrich the country and strengthen the military!"
He paused, then ripped the seal from his waist and handed it to Du Zhou. "A true pearl is not afraid of the dark. Ah Yan entrusted this important task to me, but now that he's gone, I can't protect him. Qian... must forge ahead!"
A gentleman dies for his country and for his friend.
He bowed slowly and said, "If I don't return, please ask the Chief Secretary to take my place."
The wind grew stronger, the sea became angry, and waves were as high as ten feet.
Du Zhou took the seal that weighed a thousand pounds, and stared at his immediate superior for a moment.
After a long time, I suddenly understood why Huo Yan appointed the incompetent Sima Qian to guard one side.
He was convinced.
"Zhou Ding has lived up to the trust placed in him."
Then he whispered a few words into Sima Qian's ear.
A strong wind blew in Jiaodong. At the same time, the river valley battlefield where Wei Qing and Chanyu Yizhixie fought fiercely had turned into a real hell on earth.
The battle had lasted for half a day, and its brutality was far beyond imagination. Wei Qing's 50,000 troops were mainly intended to deal with Zuo Xianwang's forces, not the main force of the Han army. Their strength was far inferior to Huo Qubing's personal guards.
Unfortunately, they were facing the main force of the Xiongnu royal court, led by the Xiongnu Chanyu Yizhixie, who had the upper hand in numbers and were fighting desperately, and were under tremendous pressure.
In just half a day, corpses piled up like mountains, blood dyed the withered grass red, and gathered into dark red streams. The thick smell of blood in the air was nauseating, and the flying dust almost obscured the sky.
The Huns rushed up with scimitars in their hands, like a suicide squad, and rained down their long swords on the middle section of the Han army.
"Report! At General Gongsun Ao's left wing, the Xiongnu Left General is leading his troops in a fierce attack, creating a gap in the chariot formation!"
"Report! General Cao Xiang of the Central Army is injured, but he's still fighting!"
"Report! The arrows on the right wing are running out!"
"Report! The rear army discovered a small group of Xiongnu cavalry attempting to make a detour, but they've been repelled by General Zhao Shiqi!"
Behind the army, Yizhixie sat high on his horse and stared at the situation on the battlefield. Without anyone around him reminding him, his eyes naturally fell on the Han army's flag. His dark eyes gradually narrowed, and after a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and uttered a sentence in Xiongnu language, which was vaguely a name.
"Wei Qing." The desert hero, the leader of the Xiongnu, raised his scimitar high, the blade in his hand gleaming golden in the setting sun. Unknowingly, they had been fighting for a whole day. Yizhixie stared at Wei Qing like a vicious wolf, shouting in Xiongnu, "Kill him!"
The rough voice echoed throughout the battlefield.
Bad news kept coming. Facing a horde of Huns, Wei Qing drew his sword indifferently, its blade as sharp as snow. His orders were clear, steady, and unquestionable. "Move the last two reserve troops from the center to reinforce the left wing! Plug the gap!"
"Order the crossbowmen to concentrate their arrows and prioritize supporting the right wing! Tell Li Ju to hold out for another hour!"
"Send a message to Cao Xiang to retreat behind the second row of chariots to bandage the wound. Order his deputy to take over command! No mistakes are allowed!"
"Rear Army Zhao Shiqi, expand the perimeter! If you find any more cavalry, kill them without mercy!"
Wei Qing remained standing beneath the general's banner. His dark armor was stained with scratches from swords and arrows, and splattered with blood. His face beneath his helmet was stained with mud and dirt. Only his eyes, fixed directly on Yizhixie, who stood behind the army, remained calm, deep, and vast as the ocean. He was like a rock unmoved in a raging storm, unmoved by the raging waves.
Changping Huanhuan, the first among the generals.
Yizhixie smiled, and his every move was filled with the pride of having won.
Against him was Wei Qing's sword. The Wugang chariot formation, though damaged, still held its bones. The crossbows, though sparse, were still deadly. The halberd soldiers, though exhausted, held their formation firm! Wei Qing, with limited resources and a tenacious will, patched the ever-present cracks in the battle line. He pinned Yizhixie's main force to this river valley, preventing them from escaping!
Yizhixie stared at the battlefield, his lips curled downwards. After a long pause, he said, "Wei Qing is more precious than the most gorgeous gem, and more coveted than the fattest cattle and sheep."
He wanted to get Wei Qing, even if it was just his head.
The Huns' offensive became more fierce.
Huo Qubing, who was supposed to deal with the main force of the Xiongnu, moved as fast as lightning. He killed the Xiongnu King Beicheqi in battle, captured the Xiongnu King Tuntou and King Han, and 83 high-ranking Xiongnu generals, prime ministers, doormen, and captains, and beheaded or captured 70,443 Xiongnu officials and soldiers.
The main force of the Xiongnu Zuoxian King’s army was completely wiped out!
At that moment, he stood on Wolf Mountain, the sacred site of the Xiongnu. This army, like a long arrow, had crossed thousands of kilometers of border and pierced the heart of the Xiongnu. He decided to hold a Fengshan ceremony at the Xiongnu's sacred site, completely killing them and destroying their hearts.
Under the lofty blue sky of the northern desert, his black armor and red robes gleamed like a sun that never sets. Beneath his feet lay the sacred mountain, a sacred place in the hearts of the Xiongnu. Before him lay the boundless expanse of steppe, crouching before his might. The air was filled with sacrificial fireworks, the sweat of warhorses, and the ecstasy of victory.
"Bring some wine!"
Huo Qubing's voice was clear and melodious, carrying a force that pierced the heavens. Shi Ye presented a massive wine jar. He lifted it with one hand and poured the sweet wine over the vast earth and onto the towering mountaintops.
"Heaven and Earth, bless our great Han! General Huo Qubing, following the Emperor's orders, has led us to defeat the Xiongnu. We have defeated the Left Wise King, captured their princes, generals, and ministers, and beheaded seventy thousand! Our troops have reached this point. Here at Wolf Mountain, we will offer sacrifices to Heaven and seal the throne! Here at Guyan Mountain, we will offer sacrifices to Earth and offer auspiciousness! Let us spread the might of the Han and terrify the barbarians!"
The young man's voice was like a war drum, beating in the hearts of every Han soldier, "Fight, and follow the cavalry."
Fifty thousand Han cavalrymen erupted in an earth-shattering roar, the sound waves threatening to rend the heavens apart! Generals like Zhao Po Nu and Gao Bu Shi were moved to tears. The blazing sun they had followed had accomplished an unprecedented feat! Sealing the Wolf's Lair, drinking water from the vast sea! They had achieved feats that their predecessors hadn't even dreamed of.
Huo Huqi, you are truly a god!
"General! Invincible!"
The wolf cubs gave the loudest calls to their wolf king.
Let’s fight! Let’s fight!
This voice echoed in the ears of every surviving Hun, like an evil ghost crawling out of the ground. They didn't know why Huo Qubing suddenly appeared in a place they didn't expect, and broke through them with unexpected bravery. They also didn't understand why they were like rabbits seeing a hawk when they saw Huo Qubing, and had no power to fight at all.
They only knew that Huo Qubing of the Han army was a god-like figure who always won every battle.
Huo Qubing lit the beacon tower at the highest point, and the flames of victory instantly illuminated the sky of Mobei.
On Wolf Mountain, the flag with the word "Huo" is flying high.
The Han flag was planted on the sacred land of the Xiongnu.
The big man said something to the grassland barbarian.
I come, I conquer.
Jiaodong.
Wang's villa was built facing the sea, with hook-like eaves and carved beams and painted buildings.
As Sima Qian entered the house and stepped over the vermilion threshold, a salty sea breeze, wrapped in the melodious sound of stringed instruments, blew in his face. Tian Ben greeted him with a smile and ushered him to a seat. "It is a blessing for Jiaodong that Prime Minister Sima has honored us with this! Please take a seat!"
Sima Qian was tricked into walking forward, separated from the guards behind him. He was unaware of it and glanced across the hall.
The light skirt is swirling and flying.
The owners of the nearby houses seemed to have been intoxicated by the cloying fragrance and invited Sima Qian to drink, but Sima Qian declined one by one.
After three rounds of drinking, Gongsun Hong clapped his hands and presented a new dance. The moment the dancer entered the stage, the animal heads on the pillars suddenly emitted yellow smoke!
Sima Qian's heart trembled, and the jade cup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered, and he collapsed.
At the same time, Wei Bu, who had been waiting for Sima Qian for a long time but still saw no sign of him, hurried to the government office, but met someone who blocked his way on the way.
A strange wind blew in Jiaodong, but Huo Yan was unaware of it. He just followed the instructions in the barrage and led the team at full speed with a compass in his hand.
The wind from Mobei, with the roughness of sand and the chill that penetrates deep into the bone marrow, howls across the endless Gobi Desert.
Behind Huo Yan, Li Guang suddenly pulled on the reins! The warhorse neighed in discontent. His bloodshot eyes fixed on the almost identical scene before him: endless stretches of sand dunes, jagged rocks, and dead thorn bushes reaching toward the sky like ghostly claws. Sweat mixed with sand and dust washed muddy marks across his wrinkled face.
"Huo Yan, are you heading in the right direction?"
He raised his question loudly, causing a commotion among the soldiers ahead. Huo Yan rode his horse and slowly turned around, his posture still calm and composed, his dark blue uniform also stained with mud. His forehead was covered with sweat. He didn't look at Li Guang, but only stared at his homemade compass. He raised his finger to indicate the direction, and the commotion stopped immediately.
All the soldiers followed him with one heart.
"Scouts! Are all the scouts dead?!"
Li Guang's roar suddenly exploded with a kind of hysteria.
Huo Yan's patience had reached its limit. He reined in his horse, turned around, and whipped Li Guang's face with the whip like a long snake, leaving his skin and flesh ripped. "Shut up!"
"Huo Yan—!" Li Guang twisted his body abruptly, the tip of his knife almost piercing Huo Yan's nose. His roar made the eardrums of the surrounding soldiers buzz. "It's you again! It's you again! You little brat! You rely on the favor of His Majesty and the fact that Marquis Guanjun is your brother, so you oppose me everywhere! You hinder me in everything!" His chest heaved violently, his graying beard trembling with anger. "I have fought on the battlefield for decades and have chopped off more Xiongnu heads than you have eaten! What do you know?! You are just a brat who is still wet behind the ears and only knows how to play with some tricks and talk!"
Huo Yan steered his horse forward, the armor leaves made a crisp sound, and then he kicked Li Guang on the shoulder, almost throwing him away. He kicked again, but Li Guang did not expect him to be so ruthless. He failed to dodge and fell heavily to the ground. Huo Yan, who was thrown off the horse, almost stepped on his shoulder and stomped to the ground.
Li Guang was trampled into the sand. Gazing into Huo Yan's cold eyes, he thought of Huo Qubing, and his accusations burst forth like a flood, a long-simmering resentment pouring out. "I sought battle, and you blocked my path! I sought a path, and you refuted my attempts! I sought merit, and you set obstacles in my way! Are you eager for me to get lost again, so I can live up to my reputation as 'unlucky' and have you, a favorite of His Majesty's, step over my corpse to climb higher?"
His voice became sharp and distorted with extreme anger and grievance, his eyes were bloodshot and a kind of madness close to collapse. He didn't know whether he was addressing Huo Qubing, Wei Qing or Huo Yan, "As long as you are here, I will never be able to make a name for myself!"
A heart-piercing statement.
The surrounding officers and soldiers were utterly silent. Even Zhang Qian's face paled, wanting to offer some advice but not knowing how. Li Guang's personal guards were furious, their eyes wide open, their hands on the hilts of their swords. The air was thick with the smell of blood and a sense of shared hostility.
Huo Yancai didn't waste any words. He threw the whip in his hand to the side, drew his knife, and slashed straight down.
Li Guang was too close to death and he almost struggled instantly, but Huo Yan's needle followed and almost half of his body was numb and he couldn't move. He wanted to ask for help, but Huo Yan looked around and everyone subconsciously retreated and no one dared to come to rescue him.
This guy doesn't mind seeing blood.
"Marquis Tai'an, calm down!"
Only one knife stood straight forward, blocking Huo Yan's downward knife.
Huo Yan glanced coldly, and no one dared to step forward. Only Zhang Qian took the knife with a panicked look on his face.
He is a little silly, a little like his uncle, yet he dares to run forward like this.
Huo Yan's expression finally changed. The cold murderous intent gradually faded, and he slowly turned his head, even a faint curve at the corner of his lips.
Zhang Qian vaguely heard the breathing of the ferocious beast.
Years of cleverness now made him break out in a sweat on his back.
"Lord?"
Huo Yan sheathed his sword and mounted his horse, casually throwing a handkerchief aside. Li Guang felt a pungent, strange fragrance, mixed with a cool, damp air, instantly rushing into his nostrils and penetrating his brain! He didn't even have time to utter a muffled groan before his vision went dark. All his strength drained away like a tide, and he fainted.
"General!" Li Guang's personal soldiers finally reacted, shouted in fear, and wanted to move forward.
"The general is tired, and the military situation is urgent, so just throw it on the horse!"
Huo Yan chuckled, "General Li fainted from anger! It's okay, just take a rest!"
His voice was decisive, instantly suppressing all the commotion. He held Li Guang's heavy, limp body firmly in one hand and threw it to Li Guang's guards like a rag.
Zhang Qian was horrified as he watched from the side. Was he killed?
Huo Yan caught a glimpse of his reaction, and placed one hand on the reins, unconsciously stroking them gently. After a moment of silence, he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Uncle, the wind is very strong, please observe carefully."
Unlike his brother, little Huo Lang loved to laugh and was known for his gentleness and elegance. A handsome young man, his reputation spread throughout Chang'an.
"Everyone!" Huo Yan raised his finger slightly and issued a command, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, his smile gentle and his every gesture composed. "General Wei's main force is currently engaged in a bloody battle with the Xiongnu Chanyu! The encirclement and success hinge on our timely arrival! Delays would not only betray His Majesty's trust, but would also endanger the lives of tens of thousands of our comrades!"
"Target, follow me at full speed! Anyone who slacks off, hesitates, or disobeys orders will be subject to military law and executed immediately!"
Before he finished speaking, he no longer looked at anyone, and suddenly kicked the horse's belly, causing the horse to neigh loudly.
Zhang Qian swallowed his saliva and hurriedly urged his horse to catch up.
Oh my god, he looks just as dead as his brother!
Then, officers at all levels roared as if they had just woken up from a dream, "Follow! Quickly! Follow the prince!"
The long snake coiled once more, but this time, there was no more confusion or hesitation! All eyes followed the dark blue figure leading the way.
forward!
[There is still a day and a half to go.]
[Go!]
[Intercept the Hun King!]
【Author’s words】
It is equivalent to Qu Bing, who took a small team all the way from China to the United States and planted the Chinese flag on Capitol Hill in the United States.
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