My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

The generals, including Zhang Bao, who had long hated the arrogant Wuhuan envoy, all rushed forward.

The Wuhuan envoy was greatly alarmed and hurriedly cried out:
"I am an envoy, sent to deliver a challenge. How can you kill me?"

Ma Su, standing to the side, coughed lightly and whispered a reminder:
"Grand Commandant, in times of war, envoys are not to be killed. Although this scoundrel has been disrespectful to you, you may punish him by beating him out with sticks. But if you kill him, would that be—"

"The Wuhuan are barbarians and nomads. What right do they have to be considered as two separate nations alongside the Great Chu?"

Xiao He interrupted Ma Su's reminder and said sternly:

"Tadun has become a traitor by submitting to the false Wei, yet he dares to come and challenge us so arrogantly. I will execute the envoy to establish my authority!"

Ma Su was startled and instantly understood Xiao He's intention, so he stopped trying to persuade him.

Zhang Bao and his companions then dragged the Wuhuan envoy away.

Before long, a bloody head was brought into the tent.

The remaining followers were terrified by Xiao He's domineering and ruthless manner, and all knelt on the ground, at a loss for what to do.

Xiao He kicked the envoy's head in front of his attendants and said sternly:
“Go back and tell Tadun that he doesn’t need to challenge me; I, Xiao He, will go after him.”

"Tell him that in tomorrow's battle, I will surely take his dog's head!"

Xiao He's meaning was naturally that he accepted Tadun's challenge.

Zhang Bao and the other generals had been waiting for these words, and their fighting spirit soared, eager to fight.

Only Ma Su frowned, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"You have all heard me clearly, now get out of here!"

Xiao He looked down at his entourage and waved his hand sharply.

The Wuhuan people were terrified. Like Meng Dahe, they picked up the envoy's head and scrambled out of the tent.

"Grand Commandant Xiao, Tadun is arrogant. We must fight this battle."

"The Wuhuan cavalry numbered 30,000. Although our army was of similar size, our army was mainly composed of infantry."

"The terrain at the foot of Yanshan Mountain is relatively flat, which is conducive to the cavalry's movement, but the terrain is also unfavorable to our army."

"Does the Grand Commandant have a foolproof plan for this battle?"

Ma Su subtly reminded everyone of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the enemy, while firmly believing that since Xiao He dared to fight, he must have a winning strategy.

The generals couldn't help but look at Xiao He.

Although Zhang Bao and other generals were generous advocates for war, they were well aware of the relative strengths of both sides, the configuration of their troops, and the advantages and disadvantages of the terrain.

“I know that the Wuhuan people have the advantage of cavalry.”

"However, when we were in Ji County, I already told the King that our batch of divine weapons had arrived and were now in our army."

"With this batch of powerful weapons, defeating the Wuhuan cavalry will be a piece of cake. You need not worry, just focus on fighting with all your might tomorrow!"

These words immediately lifted the spirits of the generals, who couldn't help but recall the words Xiao He had spoken at the victory celebration banquet in Ji County.

Not long ago, Zhao Yun's second son, Zhao Guang, did indeed lead several thousand soldiers and a batch of mysterious weapons to meet at Yuyang.

As for the true nature of those weapons, it seems that Xiao He has not yet revealed them to them in order to keep it a secret.

Everyone couldn't help but wonder what kind of magical artifact this Grand Commandant Xiao possessed that could defeat the Wuhuan cavalry.

Could it be the Beiwei Heavy Cavalry again?

That's not right either. Although the Beiwei Cavalry was strong, they weren't exactly divine weapons; they were just heavy cavalry.

Moreover, the Beiwei heavy cavalry is expensive to build, and with the current national strength of the Great Chu, it is impossible to build too many; at most, there would be only one or two thousand cavalry.

The number of Wuhuan cavalry is nearly 30,000!

The difference in skill level is ten to twenty times; how could they possibly win?

Unable to guess what was going on, and seeing that Xiao He intended to keep it a secret, no one dared to ask any further questions.

Therefore, the generals had no choice but to accept the order and prepare for the battle the next day.

...

Five miles away, at the Wuhuan military camp. As darkness fell, several attendants knelt at Tadun's feet, carrying the messenger's head.

"When two countries are at war, envoys shall not be killed!"

"Xiao He, how dare you be so arrogant, so contemptuous and humiliating towards me!"

Tadun was furious, and his roar echoed in the tent.

The kings of the Wuhuan tribe were all furious.

Wu Yan leaped to his feet and shouted:
“Great Chanyu, although Xiao He is arrogant, he has fallen for Captain Tian’s provocation and dares to fight us to the death.”

"Tomorrow we will send out our entire army and slaughter them all, leaving no one alive. I will surely cut off Xiao He's head and present it to the Great Chanyu!"

Tadun was startled, his anger instantly turning to joy as he smiled at Tian Yu:
"Not bad, not bad, Captain Tian, ​​your challenge was indeed effective. Although Xiao He is arrogant, he has been provoked by you!"

Instead of joy, a shadow fell over Tian Yu's face, and suspicion began to grow in his eyes.

Seeing the strange look on his face, Tadun's smile faded, and he asked:

"Captain Tian, ​​Xiao He has fallen for our trap and is willing to fight us to the death. Why are you so serious about this?"

Tian Yu swallowed hard, his face wary.

"This Xiao He is cunning and treacherous, and he is most skilled at using deception. He can always defeat the enemy with surprise attacks."

"He clearly knows that the Duke of Liaoxi has 30,000 iron cavalry, while he only has 30,000 infantry. The advantage lies with the Duke of Liaoxi, so where does he get the confidence to fight us?"

Upon hearing this, Tadun's expression turned sarcastic:
"What you're saying is self-contradictory, in your Han Chinese terms."

"It was your provocation that angered Xiao He, who wanted to lead his army to fight us."

"Now look what's happened. He's fallen for your provocation and wants to fight us, and now you're worried?"

Tian Yu was speechless.

Tadun, too lazy to think any further, waved his hand and said arrogantly:

"Xiao He probably thinks he is invincible and underestimates my Wuhuan army. He doesn't take me, Tadun, seriously, which is why he dares to be so arrogant."

"In tomorrow's battle, I will show him the power of my Wuhuan Iron Cavalry and shatter his myth of being an undefeated military genius!"

Wuyan and the other minor kings waved their fists, roaring like a pack of beasts, echoing Tadun's confidence.

Looking at the excited and shouting Wuhuan king and his ministers, Tian Yu knew that this battle was inevitable.

Unless he can figure out what tricks Xiao He might have up his sleeve, he cannot stop Tadun's determination to fight.

"Hopefully, as Tadun suspects, this Xiao He is merely arrogant and conceited, and doesn't take the Wuhuan people seriously..."

Tian Yu could only shut his mouth and pray silently in his heart.

...

The next day, early in the morning.

The morning light was bleak, and the sky was covered with dark clouds.

At the foot of Yanshan Mountain, on the east bank of the Gu River, 30,000 Chu infantry and cavalry were already lined up in solemn formation.

Xiao He was not wearing armor, only a blue robe, and sat idly on his horse, quietly gazing north.

The wind came from the north, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

The ground beneath my feet began to tremble slightly, and billowing dust swept southwards from the horizon, while the faint sound of thunder could be heard.

The 30,000 Chu soldiers instinctively gripped their swords and spears, tightened their armor, and stared intently northward.

A moment.

Countless battle flags, countless warhorses, countless swords and spears…

Like a raging torrent, it rose from below the horizon and burst into view.

A wolf flag, symbolizing the location of the Chanyu, flew proudly in front, leading thousands of troops to approach in a dense, imposing manner.

Tadun and his 30,000 Wuhuan troops have arrived! (End of Chapter)