105 The Final Battle (Part 4)
◎Wei Qing: The weather is cool, and the Xiongnu are defeated.◎
Ten miles from where Wei Qing was, Huo Yan could clearly hear the clatter of weapons and horses. Everyone was excited. Huo Yan reined in his horse as a scout came hurrying over, announcing, "The general is ahead."
Huo Yan looked up and saw the captain behind him snatching Li Guang from the hands of the personal guards. Li Guang had been knocked unconscious more than a dozen times. He was as strong as an ox and woke up many times during the day's journey, but Huo Yan was annoyed and would have someone bring him over and knock him unconscious as soon as he showed signs of waking up.
After the first and second times, Li Guang could still struggle. After the third and fourth times, he could still curse. After the seventh and eighth times, Li Guang was left with only numbness. After the tenth time, Li Guang developed an unknown fear of Huo Yan.
Li Guang was still unconscious when he was brought here this time. Huo Yan went up to him and started to ache, which woke him up. As soon as Li Guang opened his eyes, the pain that made his bones unable to close rushed into his head. He wanted to curse, but when he saw Huo Yan holding him with one hand, he immediately shut his mouth.
Huo Yan had no expression on his face and just threw him back to his personal guards.
Then he raised his hand slightly, breathed a sigh of relief, looked up into the distance and said, "Let's go!"
Several Han army generals following behind him hurriedly followed Huo Yan and galloped on horseback, looking at Huo Yan with respect on their faces.
They had always obeyed Huo Yan's orders, but these past few days, it had become clear that a leader with agility, a sharp mind, and decisiveness was far more easily accepted and loved by these proud and powerful soldiers than a reckless warrior with only brute force. Although they had only known each other for a short time, they sincerely submitted to this prince.
Mobei River Valley battlefield.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke, nearly suffocating. Corpses lay piled high, broken blades stuck in the ground, and blood had soaked the withered grass into a dark red swamp. Crows spun around, afraid to land. The deafening cries of killing, the wails of the dying, and the sharp clash of weapons were deafening.
The main force of the Han army, commanded by Wei Qing, was like a reef weathered by a storm: though still standing, it was riddled with cracks. The chariot formations were damaged in many places, the halberd-bearing troops were sparsely arrayed, and the crossbowmen's quivers were nearly empty. Cao Xiang encountered this very scene in his first major engagement. After a brief moment of confusion, he silently brandished his weapon, his young face revealing both obvious fatigue and a chilling murderous intent. His right arm was lacerated, forcing him to wield his sword with his left hand, a move he had lost, only exacerbating the injury.
The soldiers' armor was broken, their faces were covered in blood, and their eyes were filled with fatigue and unyielding flames. Only when they could not hold on any longer would they look into the distance at the figure in black armor as tall as a mountain under the commander's flag, and then stubbornly resist the last and most frantic attack of the Huns.
The Xiongnu Chanyu, Yizhixie, the heroic ruler of the grasslands, had long since lost his initial composure. His eyes were now red, and he looked like a madman. He had never expected Wei Qing to be so tenacious, even using soldiers weaker than his own to maintain the upper hand.
"Kill Wei Qing!" His roar resounded throughout the battlefield. When he met Wei Qing, his retreat and hope were completely cut off.
The fight of a trapped beast is the most ferocious!
Perhaps it was the oppression Wei Huo felt that made him even more crazy than in history. He decided to personally lead the most elite royal guards, concentrate all his strength, and launch a desperate charge at all costs towards the northeast corner where the Han army's line was relatively weak!
"Fight your way out! May the Eternal Heaven bless you! The leader of the Great Xiongnu will grant you immortality!"
Yizhixie brandished the golden knife inlaid with gems and roared.
"Kill Wei Qing, and the wealth of the Han Dynasty will belong to us! The great Changshengtian will protect his children."
The Xiongnu cavalry burst out with dying ferocity, like huge black waves, smashing into the defense line of the northeast corner of the Han army again and again.
Gongsun Ao's army suffered heavy casualties and was on the verge of collapse. Cao Xiang, who came to reinforce them, was also covered in wounds, but he gritted his teeth and fought to the death! The Han army's defense line was like a bowstring stretched to the limit, ready to break at any moment.
Beneath the general's banner, Wei Qing's black armor was drenched in blood, and a barely perceptible heaviness flickered in the depths of his calm, abyssal eyes. He continually mobilized the last of his reserves to fill the gaps, even personally pressing towards the northeast corner. Every swing of his sword unleashed a plume of blood! He was like a stabilizing force, using himself as a pillar to forcibly stabilize the impending collapse of the formation.
As long as General Wei is alive, the Han army will not perish.
Once again, the Han army's northeastern defenses were about to be ripped apart by the Xiongnu royal court's elite troops. A frantic glee flickered in Yizhixie's eyes. A dark shadow, like a sharp black arrow, shot through the tens of thousands of troops at terrifying speed. Wherever it passed, it swept like a black tornado, sweeping across the land and quickly stabilizing the northeast.
A dark green figure darted across the gray battlefield, leading the charge and suddenly bursting out from behind a low hill! His speed was so swift that the billowing dust behind him was instantly thrown away! A flag with the word "Huo" fluttered wildly behind him!
When Yizhixie's red eyes in the midst of thousands of soldiers saw the young man's sharp almond eyes, they almost burst into tears.
"Huo! Go! Get sick!"
One Wei Qing, one Huo Qubing, the Huns will be destroyed by heaven!
Someone called out "Huo Qubing," and the entire Huns were too frightened to move forward.
They dared to raise their swords when facing Wei Qing alone, but they suddenly became timid when facing Huo Qubing and Wei Qing together.
Huo Yan knew clearly that the Huns were afraid of Huo Qubing and Wei Qing, so a clear and penetrating Hun language was like thunder from the sky, striking every Hun fiercely.
"Zuo Xian Wang's troops have been completely wiped out! Do you want to die too?"
The morale of the Xiongnu people weakened, while the morale of the Han army soared with the arrival of Marquis Guanjun.
Ordinary soldiers couldn't distinguish between Huo Qubing and Huo Yan, nor did they wonder how the Champion Marquis could appear thousands of miles away. They only knew that with their great general and the Champion Marquis in their presence, they were invincible. They instantly erupted in earth-shaking roars! Morale instantly ignited to its peak!
"It's reinforcements!"
"The Champion Marquis is here!"
"Encirclement! It's an encirclement!"
When Wei Qing heard Huo Qubing's name, he turned his head sharply, but when his eyes caught the dark blue figure rushing towards him, he suddenly smiled. Blood thorns were knotted on the side of his face, covering it with dirt, and it hurt to smile, but he smiled anyway.
He cursed inwardly, then suddenly raised his bloodstained sword and issued the decisive order for the general attack, "All troops, listen! The reinforcements of the Champion Marquis have arrived! The encirclement is complete! Kill the Chanyu—right now! Kill—"
He then commanded the archers to cover the right wing of the Xiongnu king's flag! Suppressing their cavalry shooting, blocking their flank circuitous route, and completely suppressing the Xiongnu cavalry who were trying to protect the Chanyu's flank, making them unable to raise their heads.
"kill--!"
The Han army erupted in a roar of devastating fury, like a long-suppressed volcano erupting completely! All the reserves, all the soldiers still able to fight, under the command of Wei Qing and inspired by Huo Yan's arrival, launched a full-scale general attack from the front and flanks, attacking the core Xiongnu forces that were attacking the northeast corner!
Huo Yan took the lead, slashing with his sword in the chaos, killing people. His skills were too poor, but in order to maintain his image as a brother, he could only grit his teeth and swing his sword.
But fortunately, there was someone around him who was stronger than him. Li Guang had already stepped on his horse's belly and rushed forward. This powerful individual combat ability made Huo Yan mutter in his heart. Fortunately, he didn't kill the person, otherwise this tank would have been hard to find for a while.
Li Guang finally found his comfort zone. He drew his sword from his waist with his right hand and pointed the tip of the sword at the golden wolf-head banner flying high in the Xiongnu formation, symbolizing the authority of the Chanyu! Wei Qing ordered the sharp spearheads of Huo Yan's elite cavalry to follow closely behind!
The dark blue torrent, like a sharp blade, accurately and fatally penetrated the relatively weak flank and rear of the Xiongnu royal guards, which were exposed due to their all-out breakout!
Huo Yan's swordsmanship was ordinary, but there was nothing he could do. He was now acting as his brother, so he could only try his best to be cunning, cruel, and extremely swift. Even when he was stabbed, he didn't make a sound.
Fortunately, the people around him did not get close to him. They all thought he was Huo Qubing, who was extremely brave and daring, like a tiger descending from the mountain, and chopped down Yizhixie's royal flag directly!
"Protect the Chanyu!" The Hun general roared in despair and desperately moved closer to the royal flag, trying to block the sudden and deadly sharp knife.
Just as Huo Yan led his men to pierce the heart of the Huns like a sharp knife and disrupt their formation, Wei Qing, who was under tremendous pressure head-on, keenly captured this fleeting opportunity!
"Gongsun He! Zhao Shiqi! Push forward! Engage the enemy in front!"
"Cao Xiang! Gongsun Ao! Attack the northeast corner at all costs! Support Qu Bing and attack the Chanyu from both sides!"
Wei Qing's military orders were like a torrential rain, accurately mobilizing the last strength of the Han army, tightly entangling the main force of the Xiongnu. At the same time, he concentrated his elite forces, like a sledgehammer, and smashed hard into the core of the northeast corner of the Xiongnu army that was shaken by Huo Yan's surprise attack!
Huo Yan's troops attracted the main force of the Golden Wolf Guard, disrupting the Chanyu's protective formation. Meanwhile, Wei Qing personally led the elite Han troops of Cao Xiang, Gongsun Ao, and others, like red-hot irons, finally piercing the Xiongnu's last line of defense in the northeast corner. Together with Huo Yan's troops, they formed a deadly pincer attack on the core area where the Yizhixie King's flag was located.
Yizhixie, the once mighty ruler of the grasslands, was now trapped in a narrow area less than a hundred paces. His most loyal soldiers fell one by one.
He saw the gleaming sword in the dark blue figure's hand, and Huo Qubing's ruthless eyes. He also saw Wei Qing, his black armor soaked in blood, pressing forward like a god of war!
Despair, like an icy tide, completely drowned him.
"Eternal Heaven..."
Yizhixie let out a shrill and unwilling cry, raised his golden sword, and fought like a trapped beast.
However, the situation is over.
"Shoot!"
Huo Yan's voice was icy. He didn't choose to rush forward and fight the Chanyu alone, but instead made the calmest and most effective choice.
Li Guang, who was about to charge and kill someone, didn't act impulsively after hearing his order. Huo Yan ignored him. He thought, "If you go forward, you'll die anyway, so why not?" Li Guang, who inexplicably understood his body language, snorted in anger.
The powerful crossbowmen in the Han army, upon receiving Huo Yan's order, poured the last and most intensive rain of arrows, like a death storm, towards the core area where Yizhixie was!
"Wei Qing, Huo Qubing——!"
Yizhixie's roar was drowned out by the whistling sound of arrows breaking through the air.
Countless sharp arrows pierced the Chanyu's gorgeous leather armor, turning him and his horse into a hedgehog! The golden sword in his hand fell powerlessly, his burly body swayed, and he fell from his horse with a loud bang!
The golden wolf-head banner that symbolized the Xiongnu royal power groaned under the gazes of countless people, then broke with a loud bang and fell heavily into the blood-soaked mud!
Shanyu...is dead!
The royal flag...fell!
The Huns...are dead!
After a brief silence, the Han army erupted in a roar that shook the earth and was enough to tear the sky apart!
“The Chanyu is dead—!”
"The Han people will win!"
"The great general is mighty! General Huo is mighty—!"
The tide of victory instantly swept across the battlefield! The remaining fighting spirit of the Xiongnu completely collapsed with the fall of the king's flag. The remaining Xiongnu were in disarray, and fled in all directions like mosquitoes and flies.
Wei Qing rode his horse on the battlefield filled with smoke.
"Those who surrender will not be killed!"
The commander-in-chief's voice spread throughout the battlefield. The Huns looked at the godlike general and put down their weapons obediently.
After this battle, the Huns were destroyed.
Huo Yan rode his horse towards Wei Qing, his black armor stained with blood. The afterglow of the setting sun stretched the figures of the two men out very long, and they intersected on the fallen golden wolf-head banner.
Wei Qing and his generals laughed so hard that blood flowed from their bodies.
Oh, that feels so good!
Even with the sack, Li Guang acted like nothing had happened, constantly calling him "Little Huo Lang," which made Huo Yan's eyebrows twitch, but he really didn't have the energy to deal with him. His nerves, tense for so long, suddenly relaxed, and he was playing the role of his brother. Three bloody holes were pierced all over his body by the sack, his face as white as paper, his vision went black, and finally he fell headfirst into the ground.
He will never go to the battlefield again!
Wei Qing's laughter stopped abruptly, and Li Guang turned to roaring, "It's over, little Huo Lang is dead!"
This was the first time in his life that Wei Qing hated someone so much. General Wei glared at Li Guang with all his viciousness and then shouted for help.
The military doctor ran over from the rear of the army and said, "Oh my god, lying there is my little daddy!"
When Huo Yan opened his eyes, he saw Wei Qing. Wei Qing had only hastily bandaged his own wound, as if the blood wasn't his own. Huo Yan smiled and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank goodness I have fulfilled my mission."
Wei Qing's eyes were red.
It was as if he had returned to that day many years ago when his nephew woke up and Wei Qing slowly touched his head.
"Ah Yan, be good."
His children are the apple of his eye.
A Yan and Qu Bing are the apple of his eye.
Huo Yan's almond-shaped eyes curved. He tugged at Wei Qing's sleeve with his left hand and whispered, "Uncle, Li Guang is so heavy. Can you deduct some food from him?"
Wei Qing just laughed.
OK.
General Wei threw aside his principles and gave in to the child's pampering.
At this time, Wei Qing's other beloved was like a wild horse that had escaped from the border and had run to the end of the world.
He had already defeated all the Huns and was now riding his horse north, simply because he wanted to see the end of the sky that the Huns were talking about.
The wind from the desert north, carrying the scent of blood and iron, blew northward across the boundless grasslands. The white grass tumbled under the galloping steeds. Huo Qubing halted his horse and reached the shore of the vast sea. He gazed out, and the water and sky merged into one. The vast sea was not the boundless turquoise he had imagined, but a deep, cold, almost frozen indigo, like a giant sapphire embedded at the edge of the earth.
He frowned subconsciously. The hot-blooded young man of the Han Dynasty liked the fiercest horses, the biggest bows, the most gorgeous gems, and bright and beautiful things, but this vast ocean was too cold and lonely.
A bitterly cold wind blew in from the lake, carrying a biting chill and moisture, lashing the soldiers' faces, weathered from days of battle. The reflection of the snow-capped mountains in the mirror-like waters added a touch of timeless desolation and holiness. This was the end of the "North Sea" as the Xiongnu understood it, the ultimate northern boundary of the earth.
Huo Qubing didn't like this sanctity; he just felt cold. He drove his horse to drink water and filled a pot for himself. Just as he was about to drink, he was stopped. Shi Ye held up a box of hot water and called out, "General." Huo Qubing then remembered his younger brother's instructions. He took the box and suddenly began to miss Chang'an.
Chang'an is not that cold, it's very warm.
In spring, they can go for an outing. In the past, it was just him, Ayan and his uncle, but this year he can bring his newborn baby.
In the summer, when hunting deer and grilling on the spot, Ah Yan always invites a few friends to go boating on the lake and drink lotus seed soup. In the autumn, you can drink pear soup, and the air is filled with the sweet fruit fragrance.
Winter is even better, because there is hot pot. He eats it with his family at Wei's house, and everyone is laughing.
The young man took off his armor, washed his face with water, and put on a single garment as red as fire. Against the backdrop of the indigo lake and the gray sky, his figure was as bright as the only dancing flame between heaven and earth, so dazzling that people dared not look directly at him.
On the young face, the arrogance that looked down on the world was never restrained. The boy was so arrogant that he did not take the eternal world seriously.
Fenglangjuxu is a declaration to the heaven, and Yinma Hanhai is to erect a monument to the earth.
He did it. He led the Han cavalry and truly set foot on this ultimate place that was regarded by the Huns as a forbidden zone of life and a spiritual symbol.
"Bring some wine." Huo Qubing's voice sounded, still clear and melodious.
Zhao Po Nu held up a massive, ancient-style bronze wine jar in his hands, filled with the rich, mellow, and intoxicating aroma of imperial wine. This wine had once been sprinkled atop Mount Langjuxu, a tribute to the Heavens. It had also been sprinkled at the foot of Mount Guyan, a sign to Hou Tu. Now, it would merge into the vast northern sea.
Huo Qubing took the heavy wine jug with one hand, his movements steady and powerful. His red robes reflected the icy blue water, his warhorse at his side. He walked towards the water's edge, his boots making a clear and firm sound on the gravel along the lakeside.
The cold wind rippled the hems of his crimson robes, making them rustle. He walked to the water's edge, where the icy water gently lapped against the rocks. Huo Qubing stood still, his posture erect. He lowered his gaze to the nectar swirl in the wine jar, then raised it again to gaze at the boundless, unfathomable indigo sea.
Then, he moved.
There were no heroic shouts or passionate declarations. He simply tilted the huge bronze wine jar in his hand slowly and steadily.
The floating light sparkled with crystal light under the cold sky of Mobei, and the rich fragrance rushed out from the mouth of the bottle!
The wine drew a graceful and decisive arc in the air, and with an almost sacred sense of ritual, it poured accurately and continuously into the cold and clear ocean!
“Gurgle—gurgle—”
The sound of wine entering the water was remarkably clear against the silent lakeshore. The colorless liquor quickly spread, blended, and sank across the indigo water, as if engraving the Han Empire's magnificent military achievements, his passion, and his pride, into the depths of this ancient, icy water.
He conquered the Huns and conquered every piece of land.
In the future, he will conquer more lands.
Huo Qubing slowly stood up and casually handed the empty bronze wine jar to Zhao Po Nu beside him. His movements were still calm, as if he had just completed a natural task.
He turned, facing the tens of thousands of soldiers standing solemnly behind him, their eyes filled with fanatical admiration, and slowly ascended. Sunlight penetrated the clouds, shone on his armor, and reflected a dazzling light. The confident smile that looked down upon the world reappeared on his young face, like the sun breaking through the clouds, instantly igniting the fire in everyone's heart!
No words.
Huo Qubing simply waved his hand and pointed to the south, which was the way they came.
This action is more powerful than any big words!
The Han army returns in triumph!
"The Han people will win!"
"The general is mighty—!"
Tens of thousands of throats erupted in earth-shaking roars, pounding their breastplates with all their might, creating a deafening clang of metal clashing! The sound waves swept across the vast ocean like a tsunami, even the biting cold wind was dispelled by the fiery sound waves. These wolf cubs rode their horses, herding the Xiongnu captives, cheering and following Huo Qubing's side.
Huo Qubing didn't even look at the vast ocean. He shook the reins lightly, and his horse neighed loudly as it headed towards the Han army's meeting point.
The holy land of the Huns is nothing special. Now it belongs to our Han Dynasty.
The Han army was unstoppable and Jiaodong was in chaos.
Sima Qian was drunk!
Du Zhou sneered in his heart.
I'm afraid he wants to imprison the prefect and cause chaos in Jiaodong.
He looked at Wei Bu, who was thin and dressed in an ordinary black official uniform. His face was calm, except for his eyes, which appeared unusually deep in the dim light, as if they could see through people's hearts.
"Sir," Du Zhou bowed, his voice flat. "I request that you immediately surround the Wang family's villa and kill without mercy to deter any scoundrels! At the same time, send a swift 800-li message to Minister Sang, detailing the dangerous situation!"
The lamp sparks suddenly exploded, and Wei Bu was frightened by the murderous intent in his words, and he shouted "No" three times.
"I'm afraid Sima Xiang is drunk. I'll go ask him tomorrow."
Du Zhou suddenly recalled Huo Yan's words. Jiaodong's people are kind, but the powerful have been operating here for decades, creating tunnels, traps, ambushes... It's impossible to defend against them. You must tread carefully. The salt and iron policy is deeply ingrained. A powerful counterattack would be like a rabid dog. Sima Qian, a kindhearted man with a scholarly streak, could be impulsive. Uncle Wei Bu, loyal and brave, has a gentle disposition and might be indecisive in critical situations. If the enemy took women and children hostage or tried to explain it away through misunderstandings, he might be reluctant to kill and easily be manipulated.
At that time, he thought that Lord Huo was too cautious, but now he thinks that he is as clear as seeing through fire.
He chuckled, thinking that Huo Yan had planned everything out.
He took out the token given by Huo Yan from his chest. The dragon pattern on it was too obvious. This was the token that Huo Yan had asked Liu Che for in Pingyang to restrain Huo Qubing and force him to join the army. This token could even control Huo Qubing, let alone Wei Bu.
Sure enough, Wei Bu knelt down.
Du Zhou took the token and said, "Lieutenant, mobilize the troops and surround the mansion."
Wei Bu strode out, and an hour later, the Wang family was surrounded.
Du Zhou stood in front of the mansion gate and smiled coldly at the gatekeeper.
"Prime Minister Sima is drunk, so I'll take him myself."
【Author’s words】
Youyou: Yangyang, you are at your uncle’s house in Beijing. Hehe, let’s go to Beijing for our graduation trip.
Me: A homebody. The farthest place I’ve been to is the Beijing Zoo.
Me: Okay.
Then a trip made me hate Beijing.
It’s totally different from what’s written in the book!!!
The water in the Summer Palace is not blue!!!
I got tanned!!!
With two of us together, visiting two attractions in one day, I couldn't walk at all, but I still had to go because I would feel bad if the plan was not completed.
Also, why aren’t there any shared electric bikes in Beijing?! I’d walk a thousand meters to find a shared bike!
I said I play during the day and write at night. So far, there has never been a single day when I didn’t fall asleep as soon as I lay down.
This is not tourism, this is torture.
Me: I want to go home, I don’t want to go out in the dampness.
Youyou: Me too. But we haven’t visited the Great Wall yet.
Me: Have you made a plan?
Youyou: Not yet.
Me: Don’t run away!!!
Youyou: Run!
We decided to go running tomorrow.
I'm sorry, Beijing, a place without shared electric vehicles, I will never come here again.
Yanyan is fine, it's fine.
He'll get to see his brother in the next chapter.
I can enjoy the spoiled monster again. (Hahahaha)
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