Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 4: The End of Zhongping, The Turmoil of Luoyang, Chapter 111: The Royal Court of the Xianbei

From the book:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 111

When the Xianbei people stationed here realized that the approaching army was actually the Han forces, Lü Bu, who had charged ahead into the camp, was already close to Fuluohan.

From the time they set out from the Yinshan Pass until now, it had been the seventeenth or eighteenth hour, excluding brief rests along the way.

This dusk was also the dusk of the second day.

Even though Qiao Yan had boosted her physical stats to eighty, surpassing most adults, she couldn’t help but feel fatigued at this moment, deeply realizing what Zhuge Liang meant by “the end of a strong crossbow cannot pierce even thin silk.”

Fortunately—

Fortunately, marching across the grasslands was different from the rugged terrain of the inland!

Fortunately, they carried dried meat instead of dry rations, which could replenish their energy!

And fortunately, with a fierce general like Lü Bu leading the charge, the morale of the entire army was lifted!

At this moment, before their momentum waned, this was not a force exhausted by the forced march, but one that, with victory in sight, was ready to unleash its full potential, far more ferocious than usual.

The setting sun had already fallen, but the blood spilled from the blades of the cavalry splashed across the camp.

Lü Bu charged straight toward the main tent at the rear, ensuring that no one would escape during their assault.

They rushed out of their tents in a panic, forming ranks with their weapons upon realizing the enemy’s attack, only to be met with a hail of arrows.

The most lethal arrow, fired from a powerful crossbow, pierced through a rattan shield and still had enough force to embed itself in the skull of a Xianbei soldier.

Before they could scatter in panic, the leading executioner’s weapon had already descended.

Lü Bu’s grip on the Fangtian Huaji was steadier than ever.

When he saw the flags above the camp at the foot of Saiyin Mountain, he realized that this place was not just a checkpoint they had to deal with during their march, nor just a supply station, but also a place where he could achieve great merit.

The special insignia belonged to a Xianbei leader who could be addressed as “Daren.”

Thinking of Qiao Yan’s promise before they left Yanmen, Lü Bu felt his blood boil.

The person here was likely one of the three targets Qiao Yan had marked for the highest merit.

If he could take the head of this leader, he could be promoted from his current position as a military officer in Yanmen to a commandant of a prefecture!

Who wouldn’t want a promotion? Who wouldn’t want their achievements in this campaign against the Xianbei to be recorded in history?

Lü Bu made no effort to hide his ambition, and he was grateful that his superior had no qualms about indulging it.

Because she herself had the courage and ability to rise to a higher position.

For people like him, or rather, for someone as straightforward as Lü Bu, there was only one thought in his mind now.

The only way to clear the frustration of the past few days of marching, to realize his ambitions, and to repay this wise lord was to kill this Xianbei leader before anyone else!

Just kill!

After the hail of arrows took down many, the highest-ranking Xianbei leader was now in his sight.

He spurred his horse over the fence and charged straight toward the leader who had ordered the archers to defend.

These Xianbei people couldn’t understand why these suddenly appearing Han forces were still as fierce as tigers just released from their cages.

They had no time to notice the white-feathered arrow that had struck the camp’s central pole, signaling a full-scale attack.

All they could see was the fierce general with a murderous aura, sweeping aside the arrows shot at him and charging forward on his horse.

The Fangtian Huaji, along with every blade behind it, formed an unstoppable wave that made them feel as if they were already prey lying under the executioner’s blade, with no choice but to await their fate.

Did they have any other choice?

Lü Bu was at the prime age for a general on the battlefield, and with the added motivation of his ambition, he exuded an even more terrifying aura than usual.

The “Daren” opposite him raised his weapon, trying to find an opening to counterattack.

But Lü Bu was faster than the blade aimed at his horse, and the force behind his sweeping halberd was far more devastating.

There was no way this strike would miss.

Lü Bu didn’t even bother to check the result of his attack before charging forward to chase down the Xianbei soldiers trying to flee from the rear of the camp.

And in the spot where he had just passed, Fuluohan’s body and head had already been split in two, slowly falling backward due to inertia.

Lü Bu had no doubt that someone would try to claim his merit.

Even in the midst of a cavalry charge, the strict merit-recording system ensured that someone would soon come to collect Fuluohan’s head and present it to Qiao Yan for recognition.

Moreover, Qiao Yan had witnessed this herself.

With her force of over four thousand cavalry charging into the camp like a thunderstorm, the result was a one-sided, devastating blow.

The enemy’s patrols had failed to detect their presence in time, and their defenses were already compromised. Qiao Yan exploited this weakness, ensuring that their advantage would only grow.

The enemy had no time to identify her as the leader or to consider capturing her.

Lü Bu had lived up to his reputation, killing the local leader, and the remaining resistance wouldn’t last long.

Not to mention, among their ranks was Zhang Liao.

The open, flat terrain was perfect for Zhang Liao’s skills.

With Lü Bu having already killed the leader, Zhang Liao showed no restraint in his assault, just as Zhang Yang took over Dian Wei’s role, staying close to Qiao Yan for protection.

In Qiao Yan’s view, her fierce generals were each showcasing their talents, unleashing the strength they had been holding back at the border.

By the time she retrieved some documents from the main tent and had them translated by someone fluent in Xianbei, confirming that the local leader was indeed Fuluohan, the chaos in the camp had mostly been quelled.

Qiao Yan showed no mercy to this outpost, ordering a complete slaughter.

After surveying the area and confirming no survivors, she gave the next order: gather the Xianbei corpses and hide them in a tent, then secure the outer defenses, with some of her men disguising themselves as Xianbei guards.

The rest were to rest in the tents, waiting for the supply train to catch up before continuing the march.

This would be a rest of at least three days.

Because Qiao Yan wanted not only the supplies to catch up, ensuring the soldiers had enough rations for the next leg of the march, but also to ensure that any other scouts sent out from here would be intercepted upon their return, rather than reporting to the Xianbei chieftain.

As she slowly sat down by the fire, she belatedly realized that her legs were numb and sore from the intense riding.

This kind of lightning-fast warfare wasn’t for everyone.

Thinking about it, the achievements of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing were even more remarkable.

She took a wooden bowl handed to her by Zhang Yang and asked, “Has the order to control this meal been passed down?”

“Lord Qiao, rest assured, it has been conveyed. They’ve all attended Mr. Wu’s lectures, and though victory deserves celebration, they know not to overeat. Zhang Liao has already checked the nearby water sources. Fortunately, water is scarce here, and even the Xianbei have protected the only drinking source well.”

Zhang Yang was a bit simple-minded, but in this case, it worked to Qiao Yan’s advantage, as he strictly followed her orders.

She took a sip of the hot soup and said, “Bring Lü Bu to me.”

Most people would be exhausted after such a fight, but Lü Bu was still full of energy, ready to fight again when he appeared before Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan glanced at him, feeling a pang of envy.

But then she thought that perhaps his boundless energy came at the cost of his intelligence, and she felt less envious.

Seeing Lü Bu finally calm down and stand at attention, Qiao Yan asked, “You killed Fuluohan. Where do you want to be stationed as a commandant?”

The confusion on Lü Bu’s face was unmistakable.

It was as if he was thinking—this was actually a choice?

Qiao Yan continued, “Border commandants are usually stationed at frontier fortresses at the foot of Yinshan. For example, the commandant of Dingxiang Prefecture resides in Wuyao City. If you’re not satisfied with that, wouldn’t it be a waste of your achievements? I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?”

Lü Bu couldn’t help but feel that Qiao Yan wasn’t trying to trick him but was instead offering him a good deal.

Thinking about the state of Wuyao City they had passed earlier, it was indeed somewhat dilapidated.

If he were to be stationed there long-term and had to bring his wife and daughter, it would be inconvenient. He immediately replied, “Please, Lord Qiao, enlighten me.”

“We crossed Yinshan through the Baidao Pass to strike at the Xianbei. I plan to propose to Luoyang upon our return to Bingzhou that we establish a new city near the Baidao Pass, north of Yinshan and south of Yunzhong Prefecture’s military farms.”

Qiao Yan paused, feeling her limbs warm and relaxed from the hot soup and the fire, then continued, “This city would serve as a warning to the Xianbei. Even if we can’t annihilate them this time, they won’t be able to enter Bingzhou through the Baidao Pass from the north.”

“You, having just killed Fuluohan, would be the perfect candidate to garrison this city. Your presence would serve as a deterrent to the Xianbei. Let it be known north of Yinshan that Lü Bu of Wuyuan is the commandant of Yunzhong, guarding the Baidao Pass. Even a thousand Xiongnu cavalry wouldn’t dare set foot in Bingzhou. What do you think?”

Lü Bu’s eyes lit up.

Lord Qiao really—really understood what he wanted!

My lord!

Lü Bu, following the Governor of Bingzhou out of the Baidao Pass, had killed a major Xianbei leader and was now being appointed as the guardian of the Baidao Pass. It sounded perfectly logical.

Not to mention, if the Baidao River became a military farm, he would command a sizable force, and the fertile land along the river would yield bountiful harvests, earning him additional merit.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt this was the perfect position for him, especially the idea of being the lone guardian of the pass, deterring all invaders.

He immediately replied loudly, “Lü Bu is willing!”

“Good. I hope you can maintain this momentum in the upcoming assault on the Xianbei chieftain’s royal court. Can you do that?”

Can he do that?

Before Qiao Yan’s offer, Lü Bu might have thought that since he had already secured the merit of killing the leader, he could afford to hold back a bit in the next battle. But with Qiao Yan’s words, how could he not give his all?

Thinking that he would be the one to deter all Xiongnu from crossing the Baidao Pass, he naturally had to display the bravery of a legendary general!

This time, his reply was even louder than before, “I can!”

Of course he could!

His Fangtian Huaji was still waiting to claim more Xianbei heads!

But his loud declaration, which nearly echoed throughout the camp, drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Lü Bu didn’t mind—he always enjoyed being the center of attention, just as he had envied Qiao Yan when she rode through Wuyuan Prefecture with Xiongnu heads.

But with so many eyes on him, he couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.

He waved his hand, “What are you looking at? Lord Qiao asked if I could kill the Xianbei chieftain Quidou too. Of course I said yes! Why don’t you all rest up these next few days and then compete with me!”

His words were quite cheeky, and Qiao Yan, having said all she needed to, nearly paused mid-sip of her soup.

But Lü Bu’s behavior was no disadvantage to her.

If even the one who had already claimed the most illustrious merit was so motivated, how could the others slack off?

Qiao Yan, well-versed in rhetoric and motivation, only needed to steer the direction.

As for the system, which was increasingly suspicious of her actions, it served as a reliable compass.

To this, Qiao Yan responded, “Attacking the Xianbei and ensuring the safety of Bingzhou’s people—isn’t that what a loyal subject should do?”

[But with this, would any warlord vying for power in this chaotic era tolerate you as a subordinate?]

“Have you ever heard of Emperor Wu of Han not tolerating Wei Qing?” Qiao Yan retorted.

[But Wei Qing… he was a general!]

But the system, after carefully examining Qiao Yan’s stats, couldn’t tell if the extra point in intelligence was a compliment or a mockery.

Her stats did resemble those of a general.

And after Qiao Yan’s lecture on the population decline in Yanmen Prefecture from the late Han to the Sui dynasty, and her vision of a prosperous frontier, the system felt dizzy and decided it was better off just being a compass.

It had relinquished its role as an alarm clock because Qiao Yan felt that two days of intense riding wasn’t conducive to her growth as a minor, so she decided to sleep in after ensuring the camp’s defenses were secure.

As she had guessed, due to the location of Saiyin Mountain, the scouts sent to the Yinshan Pass wouldn’t return daily but on a six-day cycle.

The scouts returning to the camp two evenings later had no idea that their camp had changed hands, only realizing it when they approached and saw the flags of the Han forces.








The bearded sentry covering his face was definitely not one of their people.

But what use was it to realize this fact now?

The arrows shot by the gate guards who had already changed shifts hit these scout riders, finishing them off right here.

Qiao Yan listened to the commotion outside without even batting an eyelid, fully focused on the map in front of her.

If they were to charge straight to the Royal Court without stopping, it would be a drain on their lives.

So she decided to change her strategy.

The less developed the productivity in ancient times, the more people relied on rivers.

In the past, Tan Shihuai established the Royal Court at Mount Danhan, directly relying on the water sources of the Han Dynasty.

After Tan Shihuai and Helian died, the Xianbei tribe, which had split and then reunited, moved northward.

But this movement wasn’t a matter of a day or two.

Their situation was different from that of the Xiongnu branch like the Xiutu Gehu, as they had a larger population and a heavier reliance on resources.

The stability of Bingzhou forced them to either move east, as the Xianbei branch under Ke Biner did, or head further north.

The early Northern Xiongnu Royal Court relied on the source of the Orkhon River in the Khangai Mountains, also known as Yanran, where the later Rouran Khaganate’s Royal Court was also located.

Some camps were set up at the confluence of the Kherlen and Tuul Rivers, which later became the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.

Even the closest location to Saiyin Mountain required six more days of travel at the previous speed of 300 li per day.

Two days and one night of forced march had already left her needing to recover, let alone six days?

Even though the recent extreme cold climate forced the Xianbei to move their base slightly south, it was only a half-day journey at most, just to ensure sufficient water supply.

Calculating five days of march, it was still not a short distance.

So this could only be a process of slowly advancing forward while ensuring the front sentries were dealt with.

She traced the preset trajectory on the map in front of her, feeling much more at ease.

After more than half a day, the rear supply team also entered the Saiyin Mountain Ridge camp, giving her more confidence to launch the next attack.

Advance!

When this order was given, the newly replenished supplies were already packed into the cavalry’s bags.

No longer needing to march with one person and two horses, the extra horses were given to the logistics soldiers transporting supplies to the relay stations.

They now turned into regular combat soldiers, tasked with continuing to clear the surrounding Xianbei sentries.

As they officially took over the Saiyin Mountain camp, Qiao Yan led Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Zhang Yang, and others further north.

With the changed marching method, this march was much slower than before.

Thanks to the deceased Xiongnu leader leaving many documents in his camp, Qiao Yan could roughly determine the locations of his two brothers, ensuring they wouldn’t miss them, and also understand how they set up their defenses south of the Royal Court.

Because Qiao Yan took over as the Prefect of Bingzhou, they indeed realized this winter that the Han people in Bingzhou weren’t easy to bully, retreating to the northern desert.

But in the face of the Wuhuan’s victories in Youzhou and Jizhou, they couldn’t help but form a mistaken belief.

The Han people couldn’t even handle their internal troubles, so how could they have the courage to venture deep into the grasslands to cause them trouble?

Thus, they only had Budugen and Fuluohan take turns every month, with one stationed at Saiyin Mountain to observe if there was an opportunity to lead troops into the Central Plains.

Coincidentally, it wasn’t time for a shift change yet.

This meant Qiao Yan didn’t have to worry about encountering Xianbei troops coming from the north halfway.

In this overly flat environment, such an encounter would be sudden for either side. And Qiao Yan’s side, suffering from acclimatization, didn’t have much of an advantage.

The best way to minimize losses was to surprise them with a raid!

A surprise they would never expect!

The Xianbei Royal Court, which had moved south to the south of the Duluo River, even though they recognized Qiao Yan’s military prowess after she defeated the Xiutu Gehu, would never expect that during the crucial spring planting season for the Han people, she would risk getting lost in the wilderness, march from Saiyin Mountain for seven days, and arrive near the Royal Court.

The nomadic nature of the tribes, moving with water and grass, meant their grazing activities were mostly to the north, leaving few herders to notice the marching movements of this group and sound the alarm.

They also believed that under Fuluohan’s command, there would be no gaps in the south.

But it was precisely this unique way of life that made Qiao Yan’s advance surprisingly smooth.

With a night march on the final stretch, they could see the camp in the distance by dawn.

The waning moon had already disappeared by midnight, and as the sky began to lighten, even the stars seemed unusually dim, with only the mist from the Duluo River in the distance enveloping the settlement.

The only sounds in the camp were the footsteps of the outermost patrols and the snoring from within.

But at this time, just before the shift change, they couldn’t help but slack off.

The most dangerous night on the grasslands had passed, dawn was approaching, so what danger could there be?

Yet the change happened in that very moment!

The sound of horses, initially slowly stepping on the grass, suddenly turned into a gallop, signaling the approach of a fierce force from afar.

The guard, who had just dozed off, jolted awake, but before he could realize what was happening, an arrow whistling through the wind pierced his throat.

Before he fell, he saw a sky full of fire.

The remaining charcoal Qiao Yan had brought for the soldiers to drink hot water was now tied to arrows, ignited, and raining down on the camp.

Tan Shihuai had learned much from the “exchanges” at the Han border, and this was reflected in the Royal Court established by his successors.

The tents weren’t tightly packed, leaving paths for cavalry to gather and pass through, but in the face of this round of fire arrows, the burning tents alone were enough to throw the Xianbei into panic.

“Wen Yuan, go find the livestock pens and horse corrals, destroy them, and then head north without stopping.”

Hearing Qiao Yan’s order, Zhang Liao immediately set off.

With insufficient numbers, they couldn’t rely on hacking and slashing to kill all the Xianbei here.

But since she had come, she had to cause enough damage!

Being trampled by livestock in the chaos was also a way to reduce numbers.

Qiao Yan’s gaze fixed on the chaos before her, and she decisively gave the second order, “Zhi Shu, follow me.”

She turned her horse westward, and Zhang Yang followed.

As for Lü Bu?

He didn’t need any further instructions from Qiao Yan. The previous arrangements for his future position as Commandant had been repeatedly admired by him during these days of marching, almost to the point of daydreaming.

With such emotions stirring his fighting spirit, his eyes were already fixed on the most prominent tent in the Xianbei camp.

As the fire spread, the Xianbei fled in a certain direction, making the leader’s position even more obvious.

He immediately spurred his horse forward, sweeping aside the antler barriers with his halberd, leading his cavalry to charge in that direction.

Before the chaos created by Zhang Liao could spread through the camp, Lü Bu and his thousand men had already plunged into the camp like a sharp sword.

What a sharp sword it was!

He had heard Qiao Yan’s instructions to Zhang Liao and knew he didn’t have much time.

His experience in the borderlands made him understand how to preserve his men in the chaos of livestock and a camp of thirty to forty thousand people.

He only had one chance: to kill his way in and out, causing enough damage, preferably taking a Xianbei leader’s head before retreating.

This task Qiao Yan had clearly assigned to him in her two orders, and he had to do it well!

Speaking of which, what had Qiao Hou mentioned to everyone yesterday? If they couldn’t complete the kill, they should drive their prey east, as that was the direction of the Xianbei branch!

Lü Bu was sure he remembered correctly, so he focused all his attention on the charge.

The resistance of weapons against enemy bones was no obstacle to his unmatched strength.

In the face of his halberd, there was only one outcome: being torn apart.

The Xianbei, hastily preparing to fight, felt they were facing a god of slaughter rather than a human.

And the cavalry charging behind him were no ordinary men.

Every chip Qiao Yan had placed on them became their driving force to charge forward.

From the perspective of the Khagan Quidou, who had just mounted his horse, this group of cavalry, against the backdrop of blazing flames, looked more like a fire that would burn him to death.

Every face was filled with burning fighting spirit, making him shiver in fear.

And with the livestock released from their pens, raising a cloud of dust, it was hard to tell how many cavalry there were.

If he had initially thought of fighting back, now—

He only had one thought: escape!

He didn’t even have time to put on his helmet before fleeing in panic, but suddenly heard the wind behind him and quickly dodged sideways, passing through a tent, just catching a glimpse in the corner of his eye.

The demon wielding the Fangtian Huaji had thrown his weapon, turning it into a fierce silver light, almost piercing him through.

He was nearly scared out of his wits.

Run!

Run as fast as possible!

As he passed through the tent, he saw the demon effortlessly pull the halberd from the ground and continue chasing him.

Quidou couldn’t care about anything else now, just heading in the direction Lü Bu was driving him, dragging Qianman along, and more guards followed behind, forming a barrier to block Lü Bu.

If someone could see from above, they would see the camp being split by a sharp sword.

Wherever the sword passed, it was either death or, like Quidou, being chased all the way.

It was indescribably ridiculous, yet satisfying!

Perhaps it was just a sword, but under such deadly intimidation, he had no chance to think about turning the tables.

All he could do was run.

In comparison, his younger brother was calmer.

Not being targeted by Lü Bu, Budugen could try to gather people while also trying to leave the chaotic scene.

But he soon realized that gathering wasn’t so easy.

The trampling livestock, the spreading fire, and the increasingly panicked Xianbei crowd drowned out his commands.

Budugen looked around and had to admit that his best course of action now was to escape the fire.

Fortunately, the Han army couldn’t have a large force attacking, nor could they fight a prolonged battle here. Once the fire died down, the tens of thousands of Xianbei could regroup into a formidable force on the grasslands.

Where to retreat?

The fire came from the south, so there might still be Han troops lingering there. The north was marshy, better for escape but not for gathering troops. The east was where Lü Bu was chasing Quidou and Qianman, so heading there risked a counterattack.

That left only the west!

He was decisive; once he made up his mind, he immediately grabbed a horse, gathered his personal guards, and headed in that direction.

But as he galloped away, he clearly heard that the hoofbeats around him weren’t just from his subordinates.

The increasingly distinct sound indicated a cavalry unit was encircling him.

Their horses were no worse; just as he hesitated, trying to discern the direction of the attack, the two cavalry units had already caught up.

No, it wasn’t just cavalry.

There were also dozens of arrows shot in unison!

These arrows landed in the open ground ahead, forming a deadly threat.

“Whoa—”

Budugen quickly tightened the reins, cautiously looking at the newcomers.

This was a signal that if he took one more step forward, he would only meet death.

Even though these people quickly formed an encirclement, seemingly ready to capture or negotiate, it didn’t ease his frown much.

Being a prisoner or dying here might not make much difference.

But in the current situation, he didn’t have a choice.

The next moment, he saw a gap appear in the interception array, and from this gap, a person slowly rode out.

Budugen’s eyes couldn’t help but widen.

Because in that instant, he saw a leader with a very distinctive feature!

It was a girl no older than fourteen or fifteen!

In the north, with such looks, aside from the young Prefect of Bingzhou, there was no one else!

Even though she shouldn’t be here, it didn’t stop Budugen from recognizing her.

The dawn light from the east illuminated her face, clearly showing her calm and composed demeanor, exuding the aura of a victor.

She tapped the horsewhip in her palm and laughed, “From this leaky bag, a big fish has indeed escaped. Are you Budugen or Quidou?”

Without waiting for Budugen to answer, she continued, “It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ve long heard of you, but never met. Now is—”

“Just the right time.”