Chapter 111

“Can strategists really not take the throne?”

As the Xianbei warriors stationed here came to recognize that these were the Han army, Lü Bu had already charged into the camp, closing in on Fuluohan.

It had been nearly seventeen or eighteen hours since they set off from the Yanshan mountain pass, with only a brief pause in between.

This dusk marked the second day’s evening.

Even though Qiao Yan had pushed her physical resilience to an impressive eighty, surpassing most adults, she still felt weary at that moment, gaining a deeper understanding of Zhuge Liang’s saying, “A strong crossbow’s last gasp can’t pierce silk!”

Thank goodness—

Thank goodness marching on the grassland differs from the bumpy terrains of the interior!

Thank goodness they weren’t carrying dry rations, but instead had jerky to replenish their lost energy!

And thank goodness, with a fierce general like Lü Bu leading the charge, the entire team was invigorated!

At this moment, while spirits were still high, they weren’t just a team depleted from a forced march; they were a band about to unleash their potential, fiercer than ever!

The setting sun had dipped, yet blood gushed from the cavalry’s blades, splattering across the camp.

Lü Bu hurried towards the enemy’s main tent, ensuring that no one would escape during this bold assault.

As they scrambled out of their tents, weapons in hand to confront the enemy, the first thing that met them was a rain of arrows.

One volley was particularly powerful; it even penetrated a vine armor before burying itself in the skull of a Xianbei soldier behind!

Before they could scatter in panic, the reaper at the front swung his weapon down.

Lü Bu, gripping his Fangtian Huaji, was steadier than ever.

Upon seeing the flag flapping above the camp at Saiyin Mountain, he understood that this location was not merely a pass they needed to clear in their march, but a place to secure supplies, where he could achieve great merit.

The distinctive insignia belonged to the Xianbei leader, who could rightfully be called “Great Man.”

Remembering Qiao Yan’s pledge before leaving Yanmen, Lü Bu felt his blood boiling.

Those right there could very well be one of the three individuals Qiao Yan had designated for him to take down!

If he could claim the enemy’s head, he could rise from a mere clerk in Yanmen County to the rank of County Commander!

Who wouldn’t want to climb the ranks? Who wouldn’t want their achievements chronicled in the annals of history?

Lü Bu didn’t bother hiding his ambition, and he was fortunate that his superior didn’t mind his fervor either.

She had the guts and capability to stand at a higher position herself.

For people like him, or rather, for someone as blunt as Lü Bu, only one thought remained in his mind.

The best way to clear the pent-up frustration from days of marching was to take down this Xianbei “Great Man,” the true path to cut a glorious figure and repay this honorable lady!

Time to make the kill!

Having taken down a good number of Xianbei warriors with that volley of arrows, one of the highest-ranking among them was visible within Lü Bu’s sight.

He charged past the barricade and lunged at the leader who had ordered the archers to fire.

These Xianbei warriors could scarcely comprehend why these suddenly unleashed Han troops displayed such ferocity, like tigers breaking free from their cages.

They failed to notice a white-feathered arrow that zipped into the central pole of the camp, signaling an all-out assault.

What they saw was a fierce general, sweeping aside incoming arrows and galloping right at them.

This Fangtian Huaji, along with every sword and blade from behind, surged toward them like a formidable tide, causing a bizarre sense of dread among the Xianbei—they felt like already slain prey merely awaiting slaughter.

Did they even have a choice?

Lü Bu was in the prime of his martial career, motivated by a conviction that propelled him to unleash an even more awe-inspiring fury.

The “Great Man” opposite him attempted to raise his weapon for a counterstrike.

But Lü Bu was faster; the force behind his long weapon was far more terrifying than the opposing blades.

There was absolutely no chance that his strike would miss.

Lü Bu didn’t even look back to see the result of his blow; he merely galloped forward, hunting down Xianbei soldiers attempting to flee from the camp.

Where he had just passed, Fuluohan’s body and head lay skewered apart, slowly cascading back due to momentum.

Lü Bu had no doubts that anyone would covet his merit.

Even in this horse cavalry rush, the strict merit-tracking system ensured that someone soon collected Fuluohan’s head to present it to Qiao Yan.

Furthermore, Qiao Yan witnessed this scene herself.

When her four thousand cavalry swept into the camp like a thunderous storm, it undeniably wrought a one-sided devastating blow.

The enemy patrols failed to detect their presence in time; their lack of prepared defenses was a clear failure. Qiao Yan seized that opportunity and plunged in, ensuring their advantage would only expand.

There was no time for the enemy to worry about identifying this unique leader or any chance of capturing her.

Lü Bu had decisively taken down the local leader, and how long could the remaining warriors withstand against resistance?

Not to mention, among his allies were Zhang Liao!

The environment was perfectly flat and open, just the ideal battlefield for Zhang Liao’s prowess.

That the leading Xianbei opponent fell to Lü Bu didn’t dampen the momentum of the assault one bit. It was akin to Zhang Yang stepping in to take on Dian Wei’s role, providing close support to Qiao Yan.

In Qiao Yan’s view, her tiger generals were showcasing their talents, using every ounce of strength that had been restrained within the frontier.

By the time she retrieved several documents from the main tent and received confirmation from her translator, who was proficient in the Xianbei language, that the defenders were none other than Fuluohan, the chaos within the camp was already quelled.

Qiao Yan harbored no mercy for this staging ground, instantly issuing a kill-all decree.

After glancing around, confirming there were no living foes left, she then ordered the bodies of the Xianbei to be collected and concealed in a tent, and to prepare the outer defenses, dressing some of her troops in Xianbei uniforms to act as sentries.

Everyone promptly entered the tents to rest, planning to continue their march once the supply train caught up.

At least it would be a three-day respite.

Because what Qiao Yan needed was not just for the backline supplies to catch up, ensuring her soldiers had enough provisions for the next leg of their advance, but also to make certain that any other scouting cavalry sent out would be consumed upon their return, rather than informing the Xianbei chieftain.

As she finally sat down by the campfire, she realized somewhat belatedly that her legs were sore and tingling from the intense cavalry march.

Indeed, such rapid military operations were not something just anyone could manage.

Reflecting on this made Wei Huo’s achievements all the more impressive.

She accepted the wooden bowl handed over by Zhang Yang and asked, “Did the order to control our rations reach everyone?”

“Rest assured, Qiao Hou, it has all been conveyed. The lessons from Mr. Wu are well-remembered. While victory should be celebrated, we can’t stuff ourselves mindlessly. The nearby water sources have been checked by Wen Yuan beforehand; fortunately, the supply is scarce, but the only drinking source is well-protected by these Xianbei.”

Zhang Yang might have been a bit gullible, but his straightforwardness was appreciated by Qiao Yan in this instance, because at least he was executing her orders rigorously.

She sipped the hot soup from the bowl and added, “Call Lü Fengxian to me.”

Everyone should have been exhausted from that fighting style, but Lü Bu appeared before Qiao Yan, ready to take on anyone without looking the least bit worn out.

Qiao Yan cast him a sideways glance, slightly envious.

But considering that all this energy might have been a trade-off for his intellect, she felt less envious.

Seeing Lü Bu finally tone it down a notch in her presence, adopting a more compliant posture, Qiao Yan asked, “You killed Fuluohan, what position do you desire?”

The confusion on Lü Bu’s face was incredibly easy to read.

It was as if he was thinking—can we really choose?

Qiao Yan continued, “The county commanders stationed on the border often reside within defenses at the foot of Yanshan. For instance, the commander of Dingxiang County lives in Wuyao City. If you feel unsatisfied with this place, wouldn’t that be a disservice to your accomplishments? I have an idea; would you like to hear it?”

Lü Bu felt that Qiao Yan wasn’t trying to trick him; instead, she seemed to present him with a lucrative opportunity.

Recalling the state of Wuyao City they had just passed through, it was indeed somewhat battered.

Should he have to settle permanently there and bring his wife and daughter along, it could be somewhat inconvenient. He replied immediately, “Please go ahead, Qiao Hou!”

“Given that we’ve taken the scenic route through Yanshan and struck at the Xianbei, I intend to establish a new city at the mountain pass close to Baidao Chuan when we return to Bingzhou and report to Luoyang. North of the new city lies Yanshan, and south is the military farmland of Yunzhong County.”

Qiao Yan paused for a moment, feeling warmth return to her hands and feet by the fire and in her hot soup, before continuing, “The purpose of this city is to warn the Xianbei that even though we cannot annihilate them all this time, they shan’t think of crossing our borders at Baidao Chuan into Bingzhou.”

“As the one who took down Fuluohan, having you guard this area would serve as a greater warning to the Xianbei. Let there be a legend north of Yanshan that there’s you, Lü Fengxian from Wuyuan, stationed at Yunzhong County. As long as you stand at the Baidao Pass, not even a thousand cavalry from the Hu people shall tread upon Bingzhou’s grounds. What do you think?”

Lü Bu’s eyes lit up instantly.

Qiao Hou really understood what he wanted!

Oh, great one!

It made perfect sense for him, Lü Fengxian, to lead troops from the Baidao Pass, slaying great figures among the Xianbei, and then being appointed as the protector of that pass!

Not to mention, if Baidao Chuan became a military farmland, not only would he command a solid troop, but the land was rich for cultivation, meaning if he could produce a harvest, he’d gain more accolades!

The more he thought about it, the more fitting this role felt for him, especially that “one man guards, thousands cannot pass” saying struck right at his heart!

He immediately declared, “Lü Bu is willing!”

“Alright, I hope that in future attacks on the Xianbei chieftain’s royal court, you can keep up this kind of spirit, can you do that?”

Can he do it?

Before Qiao Yan suggested this arrangement, Lü Bu might have thought, well, he has already secured the head of his first opponent, so he could probably ease up a bit in the following advances without concern. But now that Qiao Yan spoke, how could he not give it his all?

After all, he was to terrify the Baidao Pass so that no Hu bandit dared to cross it; naturally, he had to unleash the might of the Dragon City’s flying general!

This time his voice echoed louder than before, “Absolutely!”

How could he not!

His Fangtian Huaji was still waiting to chop down more Xianbei heads!

However, his loud declaration nearly echoed throughout the camp, successfully grabbing the attention of everyone nearby.

Lü Bu couldn’t care less about it; he always loved being the center of attention, just like how he envied Qiao Yan parading around with Xiongnu heads in her march through Wuyuan.

Yet, with too many eyes upon him, he couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

He waved his hand, saying, “What are you staring at? Qiao Hou asked me if I could also take down that Quidou chieftain, so of course I had to say yes! You all better get your strength back during these few days of rest. I want you all to compete with me when it’s time!”

That was quite the taunt, and Qiao Yan had nearly paused her sipping of soup, almost choking on it.

But Lü Bu’s antics brought no detriment to her.

If even the ones who already bagged the most significant victory acted like this, then how could the others slack off?

Well-versed in rhetoric and motivational tactics, Qiao Yan merely needed to maintain control over the direction of the conversation.

As for the system, which increasingly felt off about her performance, it was simply a competent compass guiding her actions.

To this, Qiao Yan responded, “Attacking the Xianbei to ensure the stability of the citizens in Bingzhou— isn’t that what a loyal subject should do?”

[But would lords vying for supremacy in a chaotic world allow you as a subordinate?]

“Have you seen Emperor Wu of Han tolerate Wei Qing?” Qiao Yan retorted instantly.

[But Wei Qing… he’s a general!]

The system closely scrutinized Qiao Yan’s stats and suddenly found itself uncertain whether that extra point in intelligence was a sign of goodwill or mockery.

It really resembled a general’s profile.

Then it was bombarded with Qiao Yan’s lecture about the loss in population from the Han dynasty to before the establishment of the Sui dynasty in places like Yanmen County, intertwined with her whimsical visions of prosperity in the southern frontier, leaving it dizzy and concluding that maybe being a compass first was better after all.

The reason she allowed herself a break from being an alarm clock was that Qiao Yan believed that rapid travels over two consecutive days weren’t ideal for her growth as a minor and, once she confirmed the camp and perimeter were in decent shape, she decided to take a natural nap.

As she had anticipated, due to the geographic location of Saiyin Mountain, the scouts dispatched towards the gap in Yanshan could not return at dawn after leaving at dusk. Instead, they operated on a six-day patrol cycle.

By the evening of the second day, the scouts returning to the camp had no clue that their base had changed leaders until they drew near.

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“That bearded guard hiding his face is definitely not one of ours.”

But realizing this fact now is about as useful as a rubber sword in a duel.

The soldiers who had already switched shifts shot arrows that took down these sentry riders right where they stood.

Qiao Yan listened to the commotion outside, her eyelids not even twitching, as she was entirely focused on the map in front of her.

Charging straight for the royal court without pause would be like playing with fire using gasoline.

So she decided it was time for a change in strategy.

In this underdeveloped ancient world, people relied heavily on rivers.

Back in the day, Tan Shihuai set up the royal court at Tanhan Mountain directly relying on the Han Dynasty’s water sources.

After Tan Shihuai’s death, the Xianbei tribes, once scattered, gathered and pushed northward.

But this push was not a short sprint; it took time.

They were different from the Xiongnu factions like Xiutu Gerhu, as their numbers were greater and their dependency on resources heavier.

The stability of Bingzhou forced them to either head east, like the Xianbei faction led by Ke Biner did, or push further north.

In earlier years, the northern Xiongnu royal court relied on the Erlun River’s source in the Hangai Mountains, also known as Yanran, which later became the base for the Rouran chieftain’s court.

Some even set camp at the convergence of the Kuru River and the Tula River, which later became the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.

Even the nearest point to Saiyin Mountain Ridge would take six more days at the speed of three hundred miles a day.

A two-day march had already exhausted her, so six days felt like an eternity.

Even though the recent extreme cold forced the Xianbei to move their base southward somewhat, it only amounted to a half day’s travel to ensure a sufficient water supply.

Calculating a five-day march isn’t exactly a short journey either.

So this had to be a careful advance, making sure all front-line sentries were taken care of.

She traced a predefined route on the map in front of her, feeling a bit more reassured.

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

Advance!

As this command was passed down, the newly supplied materials were packed into the cavalry’s bags.

No more needing to march with one rider per two horses; the extra mounts were given to the logistics soldiers transporting supplies to the transit station.

Now they were ordinary infantrymen, whose next task was to continue clearing out the surrounding Xianbei sentries.

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

The marching pace was much slower this time.

Thanks to the records left behind by the dead Xiongnu leader in his camp, Qiao Yan could roughly figure out the whereabouts of his two brothers, ensuring she wouldn’t be stumbling into thin air, while also understanding how they were positioned defensively south of the royal court.

Now that she was the prefect of Bingzhou, they had clearly realized that the Han people in this region wouldn’t be easily bullied, retreating to the northern plains.

But faced with the Wu Huan’s success in Youzhou and Jizhou, they couldn’t help but develop a somewhat flawed understanding.

The Han were barely managing their internal troubles, how could they possibly have the guts to venture into the grasslands looking for trouble?

Thus, every month, Budugen and Fuluohan took turns watching over Saiyin Mountain, waiting for an opportunity to lead troops into the Central Plains.

Real good timing, now’s not the shift change!

This meant Qiao Yan didn’t have to worry about bumping into any Xianbei troops coming from the north.

In this flat terrain, such chance encounters would be sudden for either side. Moreover, with their water and soil issues, they wouldn’t have much advantage.

To minimize losses, of course, the trick was to surprise the enemy!

A surprise they would never expect!

Because the Xianbei royal court, having shifted south due to Budugen breaking Xiutu Gerhu, while having enough respect for her fighting prowess, could never expect that during the crucial spring planting season—so vital to the Han—Qiao Yan would risk getting lost out in the wilds, departing from Saiyin Mountain for seven days, landing within a hair’s breadth of their royal court.

The nomadic essence driving them further north for pasture meant that not enough shepherds could even notice the army’s movements to raise alarms.

They thought that under Fuluohan’s command, the south wouldn’t show any weak spots.

But oddly enough, it was this very survival tactic that allowed Qiao Yan’s advance to go surprisingly smoothly.

In the last stretch of night marching, they could see the camp’s tents in the distance come dawn.

The waning crescent moon had already disappeared into midnight, and as dawn approached, even the stars seemed dim, only the fog rolling in from the Duoluo River enveloped the settlement.

The rare sounds in the camp were just the footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the chorus of snores from within.

But as the shift change approached, they inevitably started slacking off.

The most dangerous nights on the grassland had passed, with dawn approaching, what could possibly be a threat now?

However, trouble struck in that very instant!

Horses that had been slowly treading on the grass suddenly galloped toward them, announcing the arrival of a fierce team charging from afar.

The drowsy guard jolted awake but didn’t even grasp what was happening before an arrow, shrieking through the wind, pierced his throat.

Before he collapsed, he glimpsed the blaze of incoming fires.

Charcoal meant for soldiers to drink hot water, the remainder of which was now tied to arrows, ignited and fell upon the tents below.

Tan Shihuai learned a few tricks from the Han borders on “exchanging ideas,” and it showed in the royal court established by his successor.

The tents weren’t perfectly sealed; paths were left open for cavalry to move, yet in the face of this barrage of fire, just those blazing tents were enough to throw the Xianbei into a frenzy.

“Wen Yuan, go find the cattle and sheep pens and the horse enclosures. After causing chaos, don’t linger, head directly north.”

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

With fewer hands on deck, they couldn’t rely solely on swords to wipe out all the Xianbei here.

But since they had come, they needed to make sufficient damage!

In the chaos, trampling cattle and sheep was also a way to reduce enemy numbers.

Qiao Yan’s keen eyes stared at the chaotic scene, decisively issuing her second command, “Zhi Shu, come with me.”

She turned her horse, heading west, with Zhang Yang immediately following.

As for Lü Bu?

This guy didn’t need any extra nudging from Qiao Yan; he had been relishing his role in the past few days’ marches, practically dreaming about it!

With his battle spirit ignited, his eyes were already glued to the most eye-catching tent in the Xianbei camp.

As the flames rose, the Xianbei, in a panic, retreated toward a certain direction, making the leader’s position all the more apparent.

He kicked his horse into high gear and with a swing of his halberd, crashed through a deer antler barrier, leading his cavalry towards that direction.

Before the chaos created by Zhang Liao could even spread throughout the camp, Lü Bu and his thousand-man unit had already pressed in like a razor-sharp sword.

What a sword it was!

He heard Qiao Yan instructing Zhang Liao and knew he was short on time.

The living conditions on the edges of the territory taught him well how to protect himself amidst the chaos of sheep and cattle, with at least thirty to forty thousand people in the camp.

He had one shot, to storm in from one side and out the other, causing enough havoc, ideally snatching a Xianbei leader on his way through, before making a quick exit.

That task was clearly assigned to him in those few orders from Qiao Yan, and he had to make it spectacular!

What did the Hou mention yesterday? If killing doesn’t work, then drive the prey east, toward the Xianbei faction!

Lü Bu made sure he remembered every detail, shifting all his focus back to the assault.

He was undeterred by the resistance from weapons meeting flesh—it was no obstacle at all.

Before his long spear, the enemies only had one outcome.

So much so, the Xianbei soldiers, hastily gearing up to retaliate, felt as though they were facing a god of slaughter rather than a man.

And the cavalry charging in behind him were far from ordinary.

Every one of Qiao Yan’s commands pushing them forward became fuel for their drive.

From the looks of the newly mounted head of the Xianbei, these cavalrymen were more like flames that would burn him alive than fiery red background.

Every face was ablaze with battle spirit, sending chills down his spine amidst the seething heat.

Moreover, the cattle and sheep released from their enclosures now kicked up a storm of dust, making it difficult to tell just how many cavalrymen were in pursuit.

Before, he may have still considered fighting back; now—

All that was left was to flee!

He didn’t even have time to adjust his helmet properly before bolting, but just as he heard the wind behind him, he darted sideways, sprinting past a tent, catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.

The fierce warrior wielding the Fangtian Huaji had hurled it with deadly precision, transforming it into a streak of silver aimed to impale him!

He nearly lost his mind in fear.

Run!

The faster, the better!

As he dashed past the tents, he saw that fierce warrior yanking the halberd from the ground, continuing the chase.

At this point, Kui Tou didn’t care about anything else, dashing toward where Lü Bu was heading, dragging Qian Man along to escape. This gathered more guards behind him, forming a barrier against Lü Bu.

If someone were to look from above, they’d see a clear trail sliced through the camp by that sword.

Wherever the sword cut through, there was either death or the likes of Kui Tou running for his life, with nothing but a comic twist of fate!

This might only be a sword, but under the pressure of such lethal intimidation, he had no space to ponder how to turn the tables.

Only to run.

In contrast, his brother seemed a bit more composed.

As long as he wasn’t targeted by Lü Bu, Budugen could still gather people while trying to make his own escape from the chaos.

But he soon realized gathering wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

Cattle and sheep trampling around, the spreading fire, and the increasingly frantic Xianbei crowd all drowned out his shouts.

Budugen looked around, unable to deny that the best course of action was to retreat from this sea of flames.

Fortunately, the Han wouldn’t be launching a large-scale assault, nor would they last long here. Once the flames died down, the thousands of Xianbei could regroup and become a prominent force on the grasslands.

But where to retreat?

The fire came from the south, and there might still be Han troops lurking there. The north was all marshy ground, better for fleeing but not good for gathering his people. East was where Lü Bu was chasing down Kui Tou and Qian Man, heading that way could easily land him in a crossfire.

He had to head west!

He was always decisive; having made up his mind, he immediately seized a horse, gathered his loyal guards, and headed that way.

But after galloping for a stretch, he clearly heard the hoofbeats around him weren’t just his subordinates following.

The increasingly pronounced sound marked the presence of a cavalry unit encircling him.

Their horses were no slouches; the moment he hesitated, trying to discern where they were coming from, they were right up on him.

No, it wasn’t just cavalry that was closing in.

There were dozens of arrows shot at him!

These arrows struck the ground ahead, forming a very real deadly threat.

“Whoa—”

Budugen quickly tightened the reins and cautiously looked at the newcomers.

This was evidently a signal that if he took one more step forward, it’d be a one-way ticket to the afterlife.

Even though they quickly closed in around him, trapping him, it didn’t relieve much of the tension in his brow.