C146. Deter the Huns.
He Lang's heart pounded with a cold sweat after hearing Yuan Li and Yang Zhongfa's words. He recognized a chilling truth – he had unconsciously underestimated the Huns. A shiver ran down his spine, snapping him back to alertness.
With the Huns gone, Yuan Li and his companions descended. Inside the main tent, a tense council formed as they strategized against the Hun provocation.
Yuan Li listened intently, remaining silent for a while. When Yang Zhongfa finally turned to him, Yuan Li preempted the question, "Lord Yuan, what are your thoughts?"
All eyes turned to Yuan Li. Yang Zhongfa, deeply impressed, saw him as a potential war hero. Had Yuan Li not already been under a master, he would have personally taken him under his wing.
Others, though unfamiliar with him, had heard of his recent exploits and held him in high regard. Their gazes held a mix of expectation and unspoken encouragement.
Yuan Li hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Could he truly contribute something valuable?
He brushed aside the negativity with a determined smile.
A thought was just that – a thought. With the system now upgraded to an emperor-training program, weakness could not be an option.
He cleared his throat, organized his thoughts for a moment.
Before Chu Hechao left, he had told Yuan Li what to do if there was a foreign enemy attack.
This foreign enemy did not specifically refer to the Xiongnu, but to any enemies from the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, Wumang and other states and counties who might attack from the rear.
It is not advisable to fight on two fronts, as a sneak attack could target Youzhou. Chu Hechao told Yuan Li how to deal with this situation, the weaknesses and forces of each enemy, and which troops to deploy in the worst-case scenario...
All of this became the basis for Yuan Li to come up with a plan at this moment.
"I have some ideas, but whether they can be used depends on your thoughts," Yuan Li said calmly.
Mi Yang waved his hand nonchalantly and said loudly, "Please go ahead, Governor Yuan!"
Yuan Li smiled slightly and said four words: "Kill first, chase later."
Three days later, a group of about a hundred Xiongnu cavalry once again harassed the border.
The Northern Border Army chased and drove them away as usual, and the Xiongnu fled without a fight.
But as the Xiongnu ran onto a seemingly normal grassland, their warhorses suddenly stepped into a hidden pit full of sharp spears, piercing through the flesh of both the horse and rider.
The cavalry behind immediately shouted, "There's a pit trap!"
They tried to stop their horses and turn back, but the sound of urgent drums from behind startled the horses, causing them to gallop forward and fall into the pit, impaled.
Cries of agony filled the air. Yang Zhongfa walked into the trap, squatted down, and coldly observed the pitiful sight of the Xiongnu.
Some of the Xiongnu, slightly wounded, tried to escape the pit. Yang Zhongfa smiled maliciously and cut off their hands.
The Xiongnu wailed and were thrown back into the pit.
Watching the bodies of the horses and Xiongnu in the pit, Yang Zhongfa recalled the despairing death of Han Jin in a similar trap.
Feeling a mix of satisfaction and resentment, he laughed heartily and muttered to himself, "Old Han, just wait. We didn't kill many this time, but don't worry, we'll get them good next time..."
The Xiongnu did not give up their invasion due to one pitfall. Two days later, they returned. This time, they carefully avoided the trap area but stepped on iron caltrops scattered by the Northern Border Army, injuring their horses' hooves and allowing the capture of seventy Xiongnu prisoners.
But Yuan Li did not spare a single one of the prisoners, all were killed.
The grass around the camp was stained red with blood, and the heads of the Xiongnu were piled under the city walls to deter them.
However, these were just minor skirmishes, and neither the instigators of the Xiongnu nor Yuan Li and his men paid much attention to them. The Xiongnu remained undeterred, sending more scouts to probe the border, and with each arrival, they met their demise, with Yuan Li claiming every life and not letting anyone return.
The heads beneath the city walls multiplied, each one grotesque and dripping with blood, striking fear into the hearts of every Xiongnu cavalry who laid eyes on them.
*
Inside a tent on the grassland...
Seated in the main position, Lord Qie Qu's expression was grim but composed. "Continue to send out the vanguard cavalry."
His subordinates were anxious, and someone couldn't help but question, "Lord Qie Qu, why do you keep sending out cavalry to their deaths?"
"This is the Khan's decision," Qie Qu looked at his subordinates, his voice grave. "It is a necessary sacrifice."
One of the subordinates asked, "Then why only send dozens or hundreds each time to disrupt the border? These cavalry are no match for the Northern Border Army!"
While others remained silent, all eyes turned to Qie Qu, eager to hear his explanation.
If they were ordinary soldiers, Qie Qu would not need to explain. But if his subordinates were starting to doubt, not explaining would only lead to confusion.
Qie Qu decided to speak frankly, "Do you remember the disastrous defeat we suffered six years ago against the Northern Border Army?"
That defeat was a humiliating memory for all Xiongnu people, how could they forget?
Their faces contorted with hatred, gritting their teeth, they said, "Of course we remember, our hero, Huyan Wuzhu, died on that battlefield!"
Qie Qu continued, "Then you should also remember the weapon Chu Hechao used back then, called the Thunder Cannon."
At this mention, fear crept onto their faces. Some said, "It is said that the Thunder Cannon's power is immense, like a creation of the heavens. It can produce a deafening thunder, create a thick fog that blinds, and has the strength to shake mountains and stones."
As they spoke of this, a sense of dread crept over them. "Could the Khan be planning to obtain this weapon?"
"It is not that the Khan wants the weapon, but he wants to understand the power of the Thunder Cannon," Qie Qu said emphatically. "We have defeated the Central Plains cavalry many times, but never with such humiliation. If not for the Thunder Cannon, Chu Hechao's cavalry would not stand a chance against us. If we want to conquer the Central Plains, to avenge Wuzhu, we must understand the power of the Thunder Cannon. If we do not, fear will linger in our hearts. The soldiers who were once scared by the Thunder Cannon will never muster the courage to attack the Northern Border Army again. Eventually, our warriors will become weaklings, just like the Central Plains people of the past!"
The group pondered his words, finding them logical but still puzzled. "Does the Khan sacrifice batch after batch of cavalry because he doubts the legendary power of the Thunder Cannon, and that's why he personally dispatches troops to test it?"
Qie Qu nodded slowly, the wind causing him to squint slightly.
He repeated what Huyan Hutu had said to his subordinates, "Indeed, the Chieftain does not believe that the Thunderbolt Cannon has such great power. If the Thunderbolt Cannon is really so powerful, why wasn't it used when Chu Hechao and Yuan Li attacked Li Li? Why wasn't it used when Chu Hechao captured and occupied Binqiu? There are many people from the Northern Zhou dynasty in the Xiongnu royal court, and these Northern Zhou people have told the Chieftain that they have never seen such a powerful weapon in the Central Plains."
He snorted and smirked, "The Chieftain never saw the power of the Thunderbolt Cannon with his own eyes, but he brought soldiers who had seen it before, and after several inquiries, he found that during the previous battle, the soldiers were only scared by the loud noise, the horses were also frightened and ran away, and they never really saw how powerful the Thunderbolt Cannon was. The Chieftain was right, what if the Thunderbolt Cannon only made a loud noise? Then Wuzhu would have died due to the trickery of those people from the Central Plains! We have been hiding in the depths of the grasslands, only to be ridiculed by the people of the Central Plains for no reason. Therefore, we must force them to use the Thunderbolt Cannon again. If they refuse to use it repeatedly, it can only mean that the Thunderbolt Cannon is completely ineffective."
So that's it!
The subordinates suddenly understood, "Then we will listen to Qu Daren and the Chieftain."
Inside the Great Wall, Yuan Li was also questioned by the generals why he did not use the Thunderbolt Cannon.
Yuan Li explained with a bitter smile, "It's not that I don't want to use it. It's just that the Thunderbolt Cannon is not as useful as everyone thinks. It's dangerous, and if something goes wrong on the road, it could hurt our own people. In the past, it was winter, the weather was cold and quiet, so we had no trouble. But now it's summer, the weather is dry, and a little carelessness might cause the Thunderbolt Cannon to blow up on us."
After hearing his explanation, the generals did not insist, as they were well-equipped and strong, with bows, crossbows, horses, and were not afraid of the Xiongnu people at all!
A few days later, Xiongnu cavalry came again.
This group of Xiongnu cavalry was more cautious than before, hovering around without daring to approach. Yuan Li stood on the Great Wall and watched the hesitant Xiongnu cavalry, finally smiling, "It's them."
Mi Yang was extremely excited and rushed to capture the Xiongnu people without waiting for others to speak, "Don't compete with me!"
With more and more casualties, the courage of the Xiongnu cavalry would diminish.
Because they knew that their mission was likely to be a death sentence.
People are greedy for life and fear death, and the Xiongnu, with no ethical morals and a barbaric nature, are even more so.
Yuan Li was confident that the Xiongnu leaders would not waste time explaining to these cavalrymen who were doomed to die.
With no knowledge of what was going on, these Xiongnu cavalrymen would become more and more afraid and uncertain.
And then they could be surrendered and used.
This group of cavalry was successfully captured by Miyang, who bound them tightly and pressed them down on the open ground.
When Yuan Li appeared, the resentful, desperate, and fearful gazes of the Xiongnu people all focused on him.
After these days of conflict, the Xiongnu cavalry had already understood Yuan Li's methods. This man from the Central Plains was just as ruthless as Chuhechao, and at this moment, seeing him, they wanted to rush up and tear him apart.
The Xiongnu people had rough features, just as wild as their customs. Compared to them, Yuan Li's tall figure seemed weak and fragile, like a thin lamb.
But Yuan Li, who was being stared at intently, remained calm, looked at them, and smiled, "Have you all seen the heads under the city wall?"
The leader who could speak the Xiongnu language translated this sentence for the Xiongnu people.
The Xiongnu people had varied expressions on their faces, and just by looking at them, Yuan Li knew the answer.
Yuan Li spoke, "Those people were your comrades, but they were too foolish and weak, easily losing their heads to our cavalry."
After saying this, more Xiongnu people glared angrily at Yuan Li, some even baring their teeth and attempting to spit at him.
The man who spat was kicked down by Yuan Li's bodyguard, who sternly said, "Behave!"
Yuan Li then nodded towards Yang Zhongfa.
Yang Zhongfa personally pulled a Xiongnu man forward, drew his sword and placed it on the man's head. He waved the sword eagerly and shouted, "Whoever surrenders and leads us deep into the grasslands to find the Xiongnu base will be spared!"
This statement provoked the Xiongnu people as if they had been insulted, and they erupted into a barrage of curses.
Even the Xiongnu man under Yang Zhongfa's sword cursed loudly. Yang Zhongfa had exchanged curses with them countless times before and understood their profanity.
He sneered, "What loyalty are you pretending to show? How many of you Xiongnu people have surrendered in the past? Betrayals of the Chieftain and leaders for wealth and food are common occurrences. How dare you put on airs in the face of death before us?"
After this, he swiftly dealt with the Xiongnu man under his sword and had another soldier pulled forward.
One by one, the number of living Xiongnu people dwindled, while the pile of heads on the side grew larger. The remaining Xiongnu, once filled with hatred, slowly started to feel fear.
As the sun set in the west, Yuan Li watched the remaining Xiongnu, now paralyzed with fear, and with a sense of conscience, he spoke, "If you are unwilling to lead us to the Xiongnu base, then lead us to the territories of other tribal clans. We will spare your lives as well."
"Other tribal clans are not Xiongnu. They compete with you on the grasslands for water, pasture, and women. Is exchanging their whereabouts for your lives not worth it?" Yuan Li continued, "This is your only chance. If you refuse, so be it."
Yang Zhongfa gestured in cooperation, wiping the blood off his sword.
The translating officer quickly relayed this to the remaining Xiongnu.
The remaining thirty or so Xiongnu people were visibly shaken. They looked at Yuan Li, then at the mountain of corpses nearby, their faces showing signs of wavering.
In the end, two Xiongnu men stood up, cowering, and in awkward and hesitant official language, said, "We agree, we will lead you to find other tribal clans."