Simultaneous travel: City, infinite evolution

Chapter 270 Xiang Yu: Pursuing the Vanquished—The Li Family: I'm Lost [Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets]

Li Chao was also unwilling to let go of this great military achievement.

Who knows if Modu Chanyu will dare to come to the southern desert after being frightened this time?

If he stays in the northern desert forever, I'll never be able to catch him in this lifetime.

So Li Chao also ventured into the desert.

Modu Chanyu was familiar with the terrain and galloped across the vast desert, fleeing northward.

But no matter how familiar he was with the terrain, he wasn't as familiar as the Yuezhi people.

Thus, guided by the Yuezhi people, Xiang Yu relentlessly pursued Maodun Chanyu, ensuring that no matter where Maodun Chanyu went, he could not shake off Xiang Yu.

Left with no other choice, Modu Chanyu led the Xiongnu army northward, venturing out of the Badain Jaran Desert and continuing northward.

After replenishing their water supply at the lake in Juyanze, they continued their northward escape.

They sped off toward Junji Mountain.

North of Junji Mountain lies the area covered by the Xiongnu's main base in the northern desert.

The area has numerous rivers, is surrounded by many mountains, has a pleasant climate, lush vegetation, and many large grasslands.

Unfortunately, before Modu Chanyu could reach Junji Mountain, he encountered the Yuezhi people from Tianshan on the way.

The main force of the Yuezhi people, who had been observing the situation in the Tianshan Mountains, heard that the Qin Dynasty had sent troops to attack the Xiongnu and believed that the time was ripe.

So he led his troops to detour from the north, intending to attack Juyanze directly from the north to the south.

They wanted to take advantage of the fierce fighting between the Xiongnu and the Qin people to raid their home base and reclaim their stronghold, Juyanze.

Unexpectedly, they intercepted Modu Chanyu, who was fleeing north, halfway there.

This is truly a case of enemies meeting again, their eyes blazing with hatred.

How could the Yuezhi people let go of this opportunity to kick a man when he's down?

So they launched an attack directly on the Xiongnu army from the left flank.

"kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill the Xiongnu dogs and reclaim Juyan Lake!"

Modu Chanyu sneered: "You spineless Yuezhi bastard, how dare you offend the great Xiongnu warrior?"

"Kill me!"

"Kill these Yuezhi dogs."

Modu Chanyu sounded the whistle and summoned his warriors to launch a volley of arrows into battle.

After two or three rounds, the Yuezhi people's indignation dissipated, and they gradually became unable to hold on.

The aging Yuezhi people were too weak and no match for the Xiongnu.

In every battle, they could not defeat the rising and vigorous Xiongnu.

Fortunately, while they were fighting, Xiang Yu and his troops gradually caught up.

After the Yuezhi people were defeated by Modu Chanyu's army.

Xiang Yu finally arrived.

"Hahaha... You old dog, Chanyu, I've finally caught you!"

"My lads, follow me and kill!"

"Capture the Chanyu alive!"

The 2800 cavalrymen behind them roared with excitement, brandishing their weapons on horseback and shouting in unison:
"Capture the Chanyu alive!"

"Capture the Chanyu alive!"

"Capture the Chanyu alive!"

His voice was loud and clear, and his presence was awe-inspiring.

Modu Chanyu was startled by the shouts of battle and turned around to look.

"not good!"

"It's that murderous bastard who destroyed my rear camp!"

"quick!"

"Get out!"

"To the north!"

"Go back to the royal court!"

Modu Chanyu fled on horseback.

His men also turned their horses around and fled.

"Go away!"

Xiang Yu led his cavalry, relentlessly pursuing the main army, weaving through the Xiongnu forces who had no time to escape.

Wherever he went, no one could defeat him.

The Overlord Spear pierced through one Hun warrior after another.

The Yuezhi army, which had just been defeated, was astonished to see that Xiang Yu was so powerful, and that he also had his own Yuezhi kin behind him.

They immediately became excited, howling and gathering together, following closely behind Xiang Yu, charging towards the tail of the Xiongnu army.

They unleashed wave after wave of arrows, killing many Huns who couldn't escape in time.

Thus, under Xiang Yu's leadership, the army relentlessly pursued Modu Chanyu's tail.

They pursued the fleeing enemy all the way, chasing after Modu Chanyu.

We arrived at the foot of Junji Mountain.

Modu Chanyu led his army eastward around Junji Mountain and arrived at Punu River.

The whistling of arrows signaled the summoning of the Xiongnu army.

Upon receiving the signal, the Xiongnu people grazing on the Punu River grassland gathered and rushed towards the Chanyu's army.

Modu Chanyu led his army northward, along the Punu River, to the middle of the river.

The Xiongnu people along the Punu River also followed, and all the Xiongnu people along the Punu River gathered there.

Modu Chanyu's confidence soared when he arrived at his stronghold.

He led his army to confront Xiang Yu's army, and stopped fleeing.

Instead, they launched arrows at Xiang Yu's army, moving across the vast grasslands and raining down wave after wave of arrows around Xiang Yu.

Faced with the volleys of arrows from the Xiongnu light cavalry, Xiang Yu was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he was filled with heroic spirit.

"What is there to fear amidst a rain of arrows!"

"All troops, listen to my command! Charge!"

"Strike straight at the Xiongnu chieftain's banner!"

"Slay their flag, defeat their enemy, and seize their stronghold!"

"Come on!"

"rush!"

Under Xiang Yu's leadership, the entire cavalry army ignored the rain of arrows and charged forward with one word: reckless!

Charge in!
Charge in!
Just charge in and you'll win!

The key to a cavalry charge is its imposing momentum.

As long as I run fast enough, even your rain of arrows can't catch me!
Even if there are casualties, we must charge forward. As long as we can successfully decapitate the enemy, we will win this battle.

However, Xiang Yu's 800 cavalrymen were all dressed in iron armor and were not very afraid of arrows.

But the Yuezhi people who followed suffered heavy casualties when faced with a hail of arrows.

Although they were able to shoot back, their morale inevitably plummeted.

Modu Chanyu was not stupid. He kept his troops on the move and on the run, not daring to face Xiang Yu's army head-on.

Instead, it is launched while in motion.

The Xiongnu people were all light cavalry, which made them fast and they did not need to build fortified villages and defend cities like the Han people.

As long as he runs fast enough that Xiang Yu can't catch him, Xiang Yu won't be able to kill him.

Modu Chanyu was quite shrewd; he had a large number of loyal troops surrounding him, who protected him tightly in the center and prevented Xiang Yu from threatening him.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Xiongnu, located far to the west at the Guqie River and the Xiongnu River, and at the Yuwu River, received the signal from the beacon fire and led their troops to provide support.

The main force of the Xiongnu along the Yuwu River was not far from here, and there was a vast expanse of flat grassland, so they didn't need to cross the river and were the first to arrive. With the addition of the main force of the Xiongnu, Modu Chanyu's army increased sharply, reaching 400,000 men.

Now, Xiang Yu had even less chance of capturing him.

Although Xiang Yu was unmatched, no Xiongnu force could rival him in his charges and battles.

But Modu Chanyu refused to fight him, keeping him at a distance and luring him into the Xiongnu's firing range.

This gave Xiang Yu a feeling of immense power, yet nowhere to wield it.

Enraged, Xiang Yu roared in fury:

"I hate that the sky has no handle, and the earth has no ring!"

"The Xiongnu barbarians are not a single hero among them!"

"They're all cowards who hide their heads in shame, and rats that burrow into the ground!"

He led his troops once more, fiercely penetrating into a Xiongnu cavalry formation, breaking through a ring of cavalry, carving a bloody path, and breaking out of the Xiongnu's encirclement, finally venting his anger.

His subordinate said to him, "General, let's retreat!"

"While the army can still break out now."

"Otherwise, once the Xiongnu gather more cavalry, we'll all be wiped out here."

"Yes, General, this is the Xiongnu's stronghold after all. We have only 800 soldiers."

Those Yuezhi people were useless.

"It would be best if we left first."

"No, I'm not going to accept this!"

Xiang Yu stared hatefully at the banner of the Xiongnu Chanyu.

"Dig again. If we still can't catch that Xiongnu rat, then we'll leave."

The subordinates had no choice but to follow Xiang Yu and dig again.

Faced with Xiang Yu's ferocious charge, Modu Chanyu naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to fight him head-on, and decisively retreated.

As long as I, the Chanyu, get rid of the enemy quickly, no one can kill me.

Modu Chanyu displayed his talent for escaping, leading his personal army on a series of escape routes.

The surrounding Xiongnu cavalry then unleashed a hail of arrows at Xiang Yu's forces, wearing down his fighting strength.

Even if Xiang Yu could kill gods and demons in his way, it would be useless.

The disparity in numbers is too great; even a millstone would be worn down.

The number of cavalry following behind them kept decreasing.

Seeing that they couldn't capture the Chanyu and that the casualties were too great.

Moreover, the Xiongnu reinforcements from the Guqie River and the Xiongnu River are already rushing to their aid.

"General, let's go!"

"It'll be too late if you don't leave!"

His subordinates anxiously tried to persuade him.

Xiang Yu glared hatefully at the banner of the Xiongnu chieftain, which was separated by a ring.

"You scoundrel! I'll remember you."

"go!"

Xiang Yu turned his horse around and led his cavalry to break out of the encirclement again.

The remaining 20,000 Yuezhi light cavalry followed closely behind Xiang Yu as he broke through the encirclement.

Heading south, they shook off the encirclement of the Xiongnu.

Following the Punu River, crossing the desert, we headed south towards Juyan Lake.

Li Chao's troops, who should have been closely pursuing Modu Chanyu, instead plunged headlong into the Badain Jaran Desert.

Without a guide, Li Chao got lost in the vast desert.

They completely lost track of the Xiongnu, and their direction had veered to the northeast.

Poor Li Chao, who originally led 3000 elite Qin cavalrymen, thought that it would be a piece of cake to capture the Xiongnu Chanyu, and that he would rise to the top and be granted the title of Marquis within the Pass.

As a result, he actually got lost.

What kind of weird development is this?

Li Chao was on the verge of tears.

After walking for a long time, I still couldn't see a single person or a trace of greenery.

They ran out of water and almost died of thirst in the desert.

Fortunately, the Badain Jaran Desert is only a small desert, not very big, and Li Chao eventually made it out of the desert.

Unable to catch up, Li Chao could only lead 3000 elite troops westward.

Because he vaguely remembered that there was a large river to the west, a watershed oasis on which the Yuezhi people depended for survival.

As long as you see green grasslands and find a great river, you won't be afraid of getting lost if you follow the river.

He was really scared; getting lost was terrifying.

It's even more terrifying than killing enemies on the battlefield.

If I were to die on the road because I got lost, and it were recorded in history that I died not in battle, but because I got lost, then I would be remembered as someone who died in battle.

The thought of that scene is terrifying.

I'm afraid I'll be laughed at by future generations for thousands of years.
The thought of this gave Li Chao a psychological aversion to getting lost.

What he didn't know was that his great-grandson, Li Xin's great-great-grandson, Li Guang, was the one who always got lost at crucial moments.

As a result, he completely missed out on all the major military achievements, which meant he could never be granted the title of marquis in his lifetime.

When confronted by Wei Qing, he was ashamed to be interrogated by the clerks and chose to die to uphold his dignity, thus committing suicide in grief and indignation.

Li Guang's youngest son, Li Gan, took his anger out on General Wei Qing because of his father's death, and injured him.

When Wei Qing's nephew Huo Qubing shot and killed Li Gan while hunting, Emperor Wu of Han announced that "Li Gan was killed by a deer."

Li Ling, the eldest grandson of Li Guang, led 5,000 infantrymen against 80,000 Xiongnu cavalry. After eight days of bloody fighting, they ran out of arrows and food and surrendered.

Sima Qian defended him, saying that he was "no less than a famous general of ancient times," but Emperor Wu of Han punished him with castration.

Emperor Wu of Han sent Gongsun Ao to meet Li Ling. Gongsun Ao believed the prisoners' lies without verifying the facts, claiming that "Li Ling was training troops for the Xiongnu."

Emperor Wu of Han was furious and executed Li Ling's mother, brothers, wife, children, and the entire clan.

It was later confirmed that the one who trained the troops was the surrendered general Li Xu, but the extermination of his clan was already irreversible.

After learning of the extermination of his family, Li Ling abandoned any thought of returning to the Han Dynasty and spent the rest of his life among the Xiongnu.

It can be said that the Li family is very tragic, and the root cause of their tragedy is that the Li family has been a military family for generations, and their power is too great.

In addition, the Li family were former generals of the previous dynasty, which aroused the suspicion of Emperor Wu of Han.

In addition, the Li family has indeed been having some bad luck.

As a result of various reasons, the three generations of the Li family have all had rather tragic lives.

But no matter how tragic their fate was, the Li family was still a super-powerful clan in the Guanzhong Plain, and they had been active since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

Therefore, the Li family later developed into the Longxi Li clan, becoming a prominent and powerful family.

Another impressive offshoot emerged: the Li family, the imperial family of the Tang Dynasty.

Although they were relatives whom Li Shimin and his family had forcibly recognized as relatives, there was definitely a blood relationship between them, just with varying degrees of closeness.

This demonstrates the cockroach-like resilience of powerful and influential families.

Even if the emperor deliberately suppressed them, he could not eliminate a powerful aristocratic family.

Li Guang, because of his legendary missed opportunity to be ennobled, became the object of spiritual expression for disillusioned literati.

This is how the saying "Li Guang was hard to be ennobled" came about.

Whenever a scholar is disappointed, he always utters a few lines about "Li Guang's difficulty in being ennobled," which have been sung for thousands of years.

In later generations, many netizens, drawn by Li Guang's legendary status and the difficulty in bestowing a title upon him, granted him the title of Marquis.

"Lost in thought".

Lost in the Way - Li Guang.

Li Guang must have had quite a reaction if he knew this marquis's name.

Regardless of whether Li Guang's expression was interesting or not, Li Chao's expression at this moment was quite interesting.

(End of this chapter)