Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 267 Northern Expedition against the Xiongnu (Part Two)

The Xiongnu were no match for the Qin army's northern expedition. Under the Qin army's brutal crossbow rain tactics, they trembled in fear.

Archery skills are utterly ineffective against such massive firepower.

They can't even win at ranged attacks, let alone in close combat.

Under the crushing force of terrifying iron weapons and armor.

In close combat, one Qin general could essentially defeat ten Hu generals.

A dignified cavalryman, unable to even defeat an infantryman.

Faced with that long, hedgehog-like infantry formation, even the warhorses cleverly took a detour.

No matter how you try to get them to move, they won't be foolish enough to rush in and kill themselves.

Warhorses aren't stupid.

Seeing that close combat was impossible and their ranged archery was suppressed, the Xiongnu had no choice but to turn their horses around and flee in a frenzy.

Even Touman Chanyu was terrified and led the various tribes of the grasslands to flee in panic.

Meng Tian led an army of 300,000 to the north, defeating the Xiongnu and expanding the territory by 3,000 li.

They plunged directly north, reaching the southern edge of the desert.

The Gobi Desert is a Mongolian plateau, encompassing complex terrain including grasslands, Gobi, mountains, and river valleys, serving as a natural buffer zone.

North of the Gobi Desert lies the old lair of the Xiongnu, encompassing a series of fertile grasslands enclosed by the Langjuxu Mountains, Yanran Mountains, and Altai Mountains.

It was the sacred land, stronghold, and lair of the Xiongnu, where hundreds of thousands of horses, cattle, and sheep were raised.

The Xiongnu were chased into the desert by Meng Tian, ​​and escaped Meng Tian's pursuit by relying on their familiarity with the terrain.

Faced with completely unknown terrain, Meng Tian didn't want to get lost.

Being naturally cautious, he did not pursue rashly, but instead proceeded steadily, building roads, fortifying cities, controlling grasslands, expanding his gains, and consolidating his territory.

Meanwhile, the newly established vassal states in the northern frontier were all eager to expand their territories.

The restless nobles of the six states within the country were all sent by the First Emperor to the northern frontier and the Baiyue and Nanman battlefields to deplete their strength.

Faced with the opportunity to be ennobled for their military achievements and rise in social class, the nobles of the six kingdoms naturally could not resist the temptation.

Even Xiang Yu was dragged to the northern grassland battlefield by his uncle Xiang Liang, hoping to make some military achievements.

Despite rushing as fast as he could, when he finally arrived, he discovered that Meng Tian had already crossed the Yin Mountains and was heading north to fight the Xiongnu.

Enraged, Xiang Yu slammed his fist on a large tree and said angrily:

"That's unreasonable!"

"Don't fight, don't fight!"

"Yu'er! Why are you so impatient?" Xiang Liang said earnestly.

Xiang Yu, however, was still furious, glaring at his uncle with his bull-like eyes.

“Uncle, we are subjects of the State of Chu. My grandfather was Xiang Yan, a great general of Chu. Why should I serve the State of Qin?”

"Yu'er, the Qin state is still very powerful, and we cannot resist it. Let's join the Qin state first, find out its strength, and use its help to restore our power."

"When the Qin state declines one day, and the time is right, we will have regained our strength, and that will be the time to rise up against Qin."

Xiang Liang's earnest and patient persuasion finally calmed Xiang Yu's resentment to some extent.

"Thus, I heard that Ying Zheng enfeoffed a small country called 'Hexi Kingdom' in the border area below Helan Mountain."

Judging from this name, it's likely that Ying Zheng had designs on the Hexi Corridor.

The Hexi Corridor was the territory of the Yuezhi.

Meng Tian is currently fighting the Xiongnu, and the situation on the grasslands is constantly changing and unpredictable.

Perhaps there is an opportunity hidden within.

Let's go, I'm going to join that small country in Hexi. They must be recruiting soldiers and eager to expand their territory.

"If we go now, we can make it in time."

After hearing Xiang Liang's plan, Xiang Yu could only nod helplessly.

"Ok."

So Xiang Yu and Xiang Liang, leading several dozen cavalrymen, headed towards the Hexi Kingdom.

at the same time.

After the Xiongnu were driven into the desert by Meng Tian, ​​a tremendous change quietly took place.

Because Touman Chanyu lost the southern Gobi Desert, he fled in disarray to the northern Gobi Desert like a stray dog, which greatly diminished his prestige among the Xiongnu people.

Coincidentally, when Touman first lost the Hetao Plain, he attempted to depose the eldest son and install a younger one in his place.

They sent Prince Maodun to the Yuezhi as a hostage and used the Yuezhi to eliminate him, but Maodun stole a horse and escaped back.

With the help of his mother's clan, Modu stole a horse and escaped. After that, he secretly trained his personal guards.

He originally intended to launch a coup, but upon hearing that the Qin Dynasty was attacking, he held back and continued to send out scouts to gather information.

Upon learning that his elderly father had been defeated and fled north, he burst into laughter with joy.

"Hahaha! You old man, you've finally met your match!"

"Pass on my order: the entire army shall set out immediately and find the Chanyu."

"This time, I will take back everything that belongs to me."

"Yes!"

The guards agreed, quickly stepped out of the tent, and mounted their warhorses.

Led by Maodun, they chased after Touman Chanyu's army.

Because Touman Chanyu had a close associate of Modu acting as a traitor within his inner circle.

Soon, Maodun caught up with his elderly father.

With the support of his maternal clan and close tribes, he launched a coup d'état using the signal "whistling arrow," killing his father Touman and executing his stepmother, younger brother, and opposing ministers.

Many large tribes were also disappointed with the defeated Touman Chanyu, so they did not put much effort into resisting.

Thus, Modu easily completed the coup and, according to the rule of the steppe tribes that the strong rule, sat on the throne of the Chanyu.

Modu Chanyu had great ambitions. He wanted to end the old system of tribal election and establish the hereditary rule of the Luandi clan, so that his sons and his sons' sons would rule the Xiongnu for generations.

Unlike in the past, there will no longer be a situation where the Chanyu is killed and a new Chanyu succeeds him.

But to achieve this, he would need tremendous military achievements and prestige to implement the new hereditary system.

Therefore, the newly enthroned Modu Chanyu did not continue his northward escape.

Instead, he led the Xiongnu army in a circle and headed south.

Where did you go?

They went to Yuezhi.

Maodun was a very vengeful person; he would never forget that his father wanted to use the Yuezhi to get rid of him.

If I hadn't been quick-witted and seized an opportunity to steal a horse and escape, I probably would have really died at the hands of those despicable Yuezhi people.

The Xiongnu and Yuezhi were sworn enemies; when they met, they wished the other's ancestors for eighteen generations were all dead.

The Yuezhi tribe, which once dominated the Xiongnu, had long since declined.

Maodun Chanyu would naturally not miss this opportunity.

Since the Xiongnu's territory south of the Gobi Desert was seized by the despicable Qin people...

Why not just go and steal from the Yuezhi to recover your health?

The ambitious and talented Modu Chanyu had long recognized the importance of the southern Gobi Desert.

The Xiongnu could not exist without the southern Gobi Desert.

Once the southern part of the Gobi Desert was lost, there would be no more chance to compete with the Qin Dynasty.

Therefore, Modu Chanyu led the wolf-like Xiongnu people on horseback on a rapid march to the Ruoshui River basin.

They caught the Yuezhi people off guard, seized the fertile Juyan Basin, and gained a large oasis grassland.

Then they continued south, fighting all the way to Yanzhi Mountain, where they forced the Yuezhi people into a series of defeats.

To survive, the scattered Yuezhi people fled into the forests of the Qilian Mountains and hid.

The Xiongnu, prioritizing speed, continued their advance towards Juyanze, the last stronghold of the Yuezhi.

The Yuezhi people were no match for the wolf-like Xiongnu, and had no choice but to flee northwest.

To survive, they ran at all their might, running and running.

They fled directly to the Tianshan Mountains and stayed there to observe the situation.

I hope that the despicable Xiongnu will be taught a lesson by the Qin people, and that I will have a chance to return to my homeland.

Under the leadership of Modu Chanyu, the Xiongnu defeated their sworn enemy, the Yuezhi, and seized this fertile grassland.

The pastures, nourished by the rivers of Yanzhi Mountain and Qilian Mountain, were teeming with livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Overjoyed, they sang and danced, feasting on the tender roasted mutton around the campfire.

Modu Chanyu's prestige soared instantly, and his position was firmly established.

When the news reached the borders of the Qin Dynasty, it caused a great stir.

"what?"

"The Yuezhi people's territory north of the Hexi Corridor was seized by the Xiongnu?"

"Weren't the Xiongnu driven to the northern desert by Meng Tian?"

Upon hearing the news, Xiang Yu was greatly shocked.

Xiang Liang also said with a sigh, "Yes, no one expected that the Xiongnu would launch a surprise attack."

What was even more unexpected was that the Yuezhi people were so easily defeated.

They were easily defeated by the Xiongnu and fled; I heard they ran to the Tianshan Mountains the day after their territory was breached.

"If they can run so fast, why call themselves Yuezhi? They should just be called Yue Paopao (Moon Runner) instead," Xiang Yu complained, looking speechless.

Xiang Yu hated those guys who would run away instead of fighting him head-on.

Xiang Liang's expression turned serious. "Yu'er, the Hexi Corridor is now controlled by the Xiongnu."

I bet Ying Zheng wouldn't be able to sit still.

The surrounding vassal states were all eager to seize the opportunity, eager for military achievements and to expand their territories.

I think that King of Hexi, being so young and the son of Ying Zheng, must be eager to make a name for himself.

If we try to persuade him, he will definitely send troops.

When the time comes, we will lead our troops into battle, conquer the Hexi Corridor, and surely achieve great merit.

By then, they will have enough prestige and rewards to cultivate their own loyal followers in the army.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu's eyes lit up. "If you're talking about war, I'm not sleepy anymore."

"Alright! We'll do as Uncle says." Xiang Yu smiled.

Xiang Liang felt something was off, as if he had sensed something unusual about Xiang Yu.

Soon, just as Xiang Liang had predicted.

Upon receiving the intelligence, the First Emperor immediately issued an edict ordering the vassal states surrounding the Hexi Corridor to send troops to form a coalition army.

He also ordered part of the Qin army that was stationed and building cities to support the allied forces of the feudal lords in attacking the Xiongnu and seizing the Hexi Corridor.

Because the Great Wall Legion had been taken away by Meng Tian and was far away on the southern border of the Gobi Desert, it was unable to return to the Hexi Corridor in time.

Therefore, Emperor Qin Shi Huang could only select a general from Xianyang to lead the army on a northern expedition to support the Hexi front.

After much deliberation, they chose Li Xin's son, Li Chao.

Li Xin was a famous general of the Qin Dynasty who made great contributions in the conquest of Yan, but gradually faded out of the public eye after the disastrous defeat in the conquest of Chu, and retired due to serious injuries.

Since his father was a famous general, his son must have inherited some of the family's skills and wouldn't be too bad off.

Moreover, Li Chao had a good reputation in the army. He was skilled in martial arts, had great strength, was good at riding and archery, was popular, and had decent prestige.

Therefore, Ying Zheng ordered Li Chao to lead 30,000 Qin troops to conquer Hexi.

The army set off in a grand procession, crossing the Great Wall border in northern Longxi and fording the Yellow River.

They joined forces with the allied forces of the feudal lords, and with the allied forces as the vanguard, they passed through Lingju and Wushaoling, and arrived at Hunushui.

(End of this chapter)