novelkee Chapter 387 The War Between the Xiongnu and the Donghu
Chapter 387 The War Between the Xiongnu and the Donghu
On the vast Mongolian grasslands, the wind howled, and the green grass rippled like waves. Touman Chanyu, clad in gleaming armor, rode majestically on a powerful warhorse. His deep eyes, like stars in a cold night, shone with a chilling sharpness, and his bronze face, sculpted by time and the wind and sand, displayed the fortitude of a grassland king.
Behind him surged a massive army of 50,000 Xiongnu soldiers, like a black torrent, charging towards the Donghu. The deafening sound of hooves echoed through the heavens, as if the earth itself trembled. The dust they kicked up was like a yellow sandstorm, obscuring the sun and proclaiming the overwhelming power of this iron cavalry. The Xiongnu warriors were all stern-faced, their hands gripping sharp scimitars, the bows and arrows on their backs gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Their steeds, too, seemed to sense the tense atmosphere of the impending battle, pawing restlessly and neighing incessantly.
Meanwhile, the Donghu king received news of the approaching Xiongnu army in his magnificent tent. However, he showed little panic; instead, a sly smile crept across his lips. It turned out that he had already learned of the Xiongnu's arrival through a mysterious informant and had preemptively assembled his army, waiting for Touman Chanyu to walk right into his trap. The Donghu king was a burly man with a full beard, his eyes gleaming with ruthlessness and greed. He paced back and forth in his tent, plotting how to annihilate the Xiongnu army and thus dominate the grasslands.
To convince Touman Chanyu of their sincerity, the two strategists, Liu Qi and Lu Jia, decided to accompany the Xiongnu army on their expedition. Dressed in fine clothes and riding tall horses, they stood out conspicuously alongside Touman Chanyu. Liu Qi was thin, with shrewdness and calculation in his eyes; Lu Jia, on the other hand, was composed, exuding an air of confidence in every gesture.
Soon, Touman Chanyu and his entourage arrived at the Donghu border. From afar, they saw the Donghu army already arrayed in battle formation. The Donghu soldiers wore brightly colored armor, their shields linked tightly together, and their spears stood like a forest. At the head of the column, the Donghu king stood proudly atop a white steed.
Touman Chanyu reined in his horse, his eyes scanning the enemy army opposite him with piercing gaze. He spoke loudly to the Donghu King, saying, "Donghu King, my Xiongnu army has come here today only to fight you fairly. If you surrender now, I will spare your life." His voice was like a booming bell, echoing across the grassland.
The Donghu king burst into laughter, his laughter filled with sarcasm: "Touman Chanyu, do you think you can crush my Donghu with your army of 50,000? You've probably forgotten that I was prepared."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than countless archers surged forth from the rear of the Donghu army, unleashing a volley of arrows that rained down upon the Xiongnu forces. Touman Chanyu's expression changed drastically, and he hastily ordered his troops to defend. The Xiongnu warriors quickly raised their shields, forming a defensive barrier, yet many soldiers still fell to the ground, struck by arrows, letting out painful screams. The battlefield was instantly filled with smoke and the deafening shouts of battle.
The Xiongnu army launched its charge, like a pack of ferocious beasts, rushing towards the Donghu forces. Scimitars clashed fiercely with spears, sparks flying. Blood stained the grass, and the corpses of soldiers piled up in heaps. Touman Chanyu brandished his long sword, charging left and right through the enemy ranks, felling wherever he went. His face was splattered with blood, but his eyes grew ever more ferocious.
Seeing this, the Donghu King personally led an elite force to charge at Touman Chanyu. The two met on the battlefield, their eyes meeting as if sparks were about to fly. Touman Chanyu roared and swung his sword at the Donghu King, who quickly parried with his spear. The two fought back and forth, locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.
At this critical moment, the young Modu, like a divine intervention, led a group of well-trained and fearless warriors, charging towards the Donghu people from the other side like a whirlwind. When this light cavalry suddenly appeared behind the Donghu archers, the archers were thrown into chaos. The Xiongnu light cavalry, wielding their scimitars, moved with unstoppable force, their momentum overwhelming, and the Donghu archers scattered and fled.
The Donghu people were completely unprepared for such a surprise attack, and their formation was thrown into chaos. They had been focusing their efforts on dealing with the enemy in front of them, but this unexpected attack caught them off guard.
Seeing the dire situation, the Donghu king knew that if he didn't retreat in time, he would face annihilation. Therefore, he decisively ordered his troops to withdraw and defend. Upon hearing the order, the Donghu soldiers turned and fled, and the once tight defensive line collapsed instantly.
When Touman Chanyu saw the Donghu king retreat, he was about to give chase when Liu Qi and Lu Jia stopped him. "Chanyu, wait!" Liu Qi said urgently. "Although the Donghu have retreated, their camp must be heavily guarded. If we pursue them rashly now, we may fall into an ambush."
Lu Jia nodded in agreement: "Yes, we should stabilize the situation first, and then make a long-term plan." Although Touman Chanyu was unwilling, he understood that what the two said made sense, so he reined in the horses and stopped the pursuit.
Touman Chanyu stood on the battlefield, gazing at the corpses and blood strewn everywhere, yet felt no joy in victory. Although the battle was won, the Xiongnu had paid a heavy price. At this moment, Maodun arrived with his warriors. Touman Chanyu looked at Maodun approaching him, his eyes filled with satisfaction: "Maodun, your bravery this time has rendered a great service to my Xiongnu."
Maodun knelt on one knee: "Father, this is what I should do. But the Donghu came prepared this time, there must be something fishy going on behind it." Touman Chanyu frowned and fell into deep thought.
Liu Qi suggested, "Shanyu, we can first send people to scout out the situation of the Donghu camp, and then formulate a strategy to defeat the enemy. At the same time, we must also be wary of that informant, lest we be tricked again."
Touman Chanyu adopted the suggestion and immediately arranged for manpower to take action. Although the smoke of war on the grasslands had temporarily dissipated, a larger conspiracy might be quietly brewing. The conflict between the Xiongnu and the Donghu was far from over.
Night fell, and all was quiet. Liu Qi and Lu Jia sat in their tent, facing each other in silence, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Their original plan was to weaken both the Donghu and the Xiongnu, but unexpectedly, the young Maodun had managed to gather such a large force to support them. This undoubtedly demonstrated Maodun's ability and potential, and made Liu Qi and Lu Jia realize that he must be eliminated as soon as possible to prevent him from becoming a powerful adversary of Qin in the future.
After careful consideration, Lu Jia made a bold suggestion: "I want to try to make contact with the Queen Mother, and then find an opportunity to have her whisper in Touman Chanyu's ear to persuade Maodun to leave this place. In this way, we can take the opportunity to eliminate Maodun."
Liu Qi agreed with the suggestion, nodding and saying, "Yes, this method is feasible. However, you must be very careful. From my observation, this queen is probably no ordinary person. If you are not careful, she may turn around and bite you back, which would be a great loss."
Lu Jia was well aware of the implications, so he nodded solemnly and replied, "Okay, I understand." The night passed without incident, and time quietly slipped by.