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

"This person's ruthlessness is truly unprecedented..."

As Tian Yu gazed at Xiao He's figure, he was utterly shocked.

Even his body was trembling slightly, and a chilling fear was showing between his brows.

"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. Well said!"

“These barbarians have been entrenched in our border regions like blood-sucking insects. Taking advantage of the chaos in the world and the decline of the Han court, they have taken the opportunity to move inland and nibble away at our border counties, plundering our people. It is truly hateful.”

"These poisonous insects should all be wiped out!"

Zhang Bao shouted indignantly, responding generously to Xiao He's decision.

The generals echoed his sentiments, all giving their full support to Xiao He's decision to annihilate the Wuhuan.

Xiao He gave a cold laugh and pointed outside the camp, saying:
"If that's the case, then what are you all waiting for?"

The generals gladly accepted the order.

Upon receiving the order, the Chu soldiers' killing intent was reignited, and they rushed towards the kneeling Wuhuan people, swords in hand, to surrender.

Outside the camp, on the open field, the cries of agony rose once more.

The Wuhuan people used their blood to dye this grassland even more crimson.

Inside the camp.

Only Tian Yu remained, standing there stiffly, trembling all over.

Hearing the cries of agony all around him and watching thousands of Wuhuan people being executed, Tian Yu was so horrified that his face turned as pale as paper and he was covered in cold sweat.

"You're Tian Yu?"

Xiao's cold gaze fell upon the last remaining body.

Tian Yu turned her head shakily, and the moment she saw Xiao He, she felt a chill run down her spine.

Those terrified eyes looked not at a person, but at a cold-blooded, bloodthirsty demon.

"Xiao He, Liu Bei prides himself on benevolence and righteousness, how can you be so cruel?"

"Although the Wuhuan people are barbarians, they are still living beings. How can you be so cruel as to exterminate their entire tribe?"

"Throughout history, has there ever been such a cruel person as you?"

Tian Yu was indignant on behalf of the Wuhuan people and pointed at Xiao He's nose, questioning him relentlessly.

Xiao He was happy.

You, a Han Chinese, actually spoke out for the Hu people; you truly have great compassion!
"Tian Yu, I ask you, since the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo and the decline of the Han Dynasty, how many of our border soldiers have the Wuhuan people killed and how many of our border people have they plundered?"

"answer me!"

Xiao He's gaze was like a knife, fixed on Tian Yu, and he demanded an answer in a stern voice.

Tian Yu was speechless.

He was from Youzhou, which happened to be a major area affected by the Wuhuan invasion and plunder.

Over the past few decades, how could he not know how many people in Youzhou had been abducted by the Wuhuan people?

He naturally understood Xiao He's meaning.

The Wuhuan invaded my land and abducted my people. I destroyed the Wuhuan clan and made them pay for their blood debt. What wrong have I done?

After a long pause, Tian Yu stammered:
"Even if the Wuhuan people once ravaged the border regions and harmed the people of Youzhou, you have already avenged them by killing so many of them. Why go through the trouble of exterminating them?"

“We are civilized people who follow the way of the sages. How is what you are doing any different from these barbarian savages who are not accustomed to the ways of the king?”

Tian Yu regained his self-righteousness, spouting a long string of grand principles, acting as if he were a saint, and once again questioned Xiao He.

Xiao He gave a cold laugh and said dismissively:
"I can't remember all the great principles the sages have said, but I do remember the eight words: 'If you repay evil with good, how will you repay good?'"

"Therefore, I, Xiao He, will repay evil with evil and blood with blood today!"

Tian Yu stiffened and took a small half-step back.

Xiao's icy words and murderous expression sent a chill down his spine, making him feel as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, and an endless sense of dread welled up in his heart.

"You, you, you—" Tian Yu pointed at Xiao He, stammering but unable to utter a single word.

"Somebody come!"

Xiao He waved his hand and shouted:
"Drag this traitor who colluded with the Wuhuan and led the Hu into the border, and execute him as well. Send his head to all the prefectures of Youzhou!"

Tian Yu swayed, took two steps back, lost his footing, and fell to the ground.

Xiao He not only wanted to exterminate the Wuhuan clan, but he also wanted to kill him.

Even though Tian Yu had long been mentally prepared to die, he was still stunned when he heard his death sentence.

The soldiers on both sides rushed forward, grabbed Tian Yu, and dragged him out of the camp.

"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have betrayed Liu Bei under the guise of filial piety..."

"Tian Yu, oh Tian Yu, this is your fate, this is your fate..."

Tian Yu felt utterly desolate and overwhelmed with regret.

The Chu army's broadswords, however, fell mercilessly.

Heads fell to the ground.

This is not finished.

Although this battle wiped out more than 100,000 Wuhuan people, nearly 70,000 to 80,000 Wuhuan old and weak people still lingered in the Liucheng area.

These remnants were naturally also targets that Xiao He wanted to eliminate.

Xiao He then ordered his soldiers to rest for two days before continuing to lead nearly 40,000 infantry and cavalry eastward along the Wuhou River.

Five days later, the Chu army arrived at Liucheng.

At this time, the Wuhuan people of Liucheng only knew the news of Tadun's death, and knew nothing else.

They were completely unprepared for the Chu army's expedition.

At Xiao He's command, Deng Ai, Zhang Liao, and others led nearly ten thousand cavalrymen, charging forward like divine soldiers descending from the heavens.

The subsequent 30,000 Chu infantrymen, like tigers and wolves, pounced on the terrified Wuhuan people.

Another crushing battle has begun.

The garrison at Liucheng consisted mostly of Wuhuan civilians, with a mere three thousand soldiers, all of whom were old, weak, sick, or disabled. How could they possibly withstand the ferocious army of Chu?

So the Chu army went all out and slaughtered indiscriminately from dawn until dusk.

The area within a radius of more than ten miles around Liucheng was covered with the bones of the Wuhuan people…

The entire battle was a foregone conclusion and ended by evening.

One hundred thousand Wuhuan people were slaughtered, and more than four hundred thousand cattle and sheep were captured by the Chu army.

Thus, the hundreds of thousands of Wuhuan people who occupied the area north of the three prefectures of Yuyang were wiped out of the world by Xiao He.

To prevent the Xianbei from taking over the Wuhuan territory after their defeat, Xiao He ordered Hao Zhao to lead 5,000 Chu troops to garrison Liucheng.

On his way back with his army, Xiao He built several cities along the Wuhou River and left troops to garrison them.

The purpose of this move was twofold: first, to prevent the Xianbei people from filling in the former territory of the Wuhuan; and second, to push the Youzhou border defense line from the Great Wall to the grasslands, thereby establishing a buffer zone of hundreds of miles.

After the city was completed, Xiao He left nearly 10,000 men to garrison it before leading his army back to Youzhou.

At this time, Cao Cao had completely retreated west to Bingzhou, and Liu Bei seized Juyong Pass without bloodshed, and then recovered Shanggu and part of Dai County, advancing his army to the eastern foothills of Taihang Mountain.

The Taihang Mountains are no less dangerous than the Qinling Mountains; even birds cannot cross them.

Without making adequate preparations, Liu Bei did not continue his westward pursuit or launch a strong attack on Taihang Mountain, and instead led his army of over 200,000 eastward back.

The emperor and his minister met at Ji County.

After a brief month of rest and to appease the people, Liu Bei led his army south and returned to Ye City.

That winter, the Northern Expedition officially ended, and Youzhou was thus incorporated into the territory of the Great Chu. (End of Chapter)