The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 245 Sweeping Across the Northern Desert
Han Xin did not reply to Chen Ping immediately, feeling that if he did, it would surely be bad news.

Seeing that the other party was ignoring him, Chen Ping hesitated and could only leave first.

Han Xin added some more hay to the chestnut horse, and then he and his soldiers squeezed together under a thatched hut to rest. The environment of Yabulai Mountain was not good to begin with.

At the foot of the mountain, the corpses of the Xiongnu were still being burned, but fortunately, this was a sheltered spot, so there was no smell.

It was already quite good that he and his accompanying soldiers had such a place to rest.

The next morning, Han Xin woke up early. He didn't know how long he had slept, but when he woke up, the sun was shining brightly.

The scenery on the grassland is always beautiful. Although there is still a cold wind in the morning, the air is fresh and invigorating.

However, while the scenery was beautiful, there was also a spoilsport.

Chen Ping was sitting not far away, elegantly sipping his tea.

Han Xin went up to take a look and saw that they were drinking milk tea.

Even today, Guanzhong tea is still a precious commodity. Seeing Chen Ping leisurely drinking tea and eating cakes, Han Xin couldn't help but take another look.

"Captain Han, how about we drink together?"

Han Xin led out his chestnut horse and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Chen Ping also noticed the other person's gaze, which seemed to say, "Didn't you see I'm going out to fight?"
This was probably what Chen Ping read from Han Xin's eyes. As if he had expected it, Chen Ping took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "General Zhang Han's military order. This military order is to be given to Colonel Han."

Han Xin took the paper and looked at the military order with a solemn expression.

Chen Ping poured Han Xin a bowl of milk tea and said slowly, "Colonel Han came here on the orders of General Meng. Now that he has come to our Western Army, he must obey the orders of the Western Army."

After reading the military order, Han Xin found that it was very simple: to work with Chen Ping's spies to capture Maodun.

Two days have passed since the mobilization began, and Han Xin still has no idea how the battle is progressing outside.

It seems the two generals divided the credit: General Zhang Han captured Modu, while General Meng Tian cleared the northern desert and cut off Modu's retreat.

But Maodun was not an easy person to capture.

Two days have passed, and Modu's cavalry are still fighting against the large army outside.

Chen Ping took out an arrow, handed it to Han Xin, and said, "This is Maodun's signal arrow."

Han Xin had heard about the deeds of Modu, and that Modu had used this kind of whistling arrow to kill his father, Touman Chanyu.

Whether this is true or not is still uncertain, but that's the rumor.

Han Xin despised Modu's cruelty, feeling that this Xiongnu king always did extremely cruel things in order to establish his authority.

For example, who would actually use someone else's head as a drinking vessel? If such a person were in the Central Plains, he would be repeatedly cited as a case for generations to come.

It's fortunate that Maodun was actually capable of doing such a thing.

Chen Ping continued, "In the past, General Zhang Han would never have sent troops to capture Modu. The worst time was when he just missed Modu at Mazong Mountain. Our General Zhang Han has always been the most prudent in his actions. Only now that the construction of the Hexi Corridor has yielded results will he send troops north."

At this point, Chen Ping took another sip of milk tea and continued, "With the Hexi Corridor as our backing, our army is out there, and we can return at any time."

That's what they said, and Han Xin thought so too. As long as the Great Wall was still standing, they would always have a way to retreat when they were galloping across the grasslands.

According to Chen Ping, the newly constructed Hexi Corridor has the same significance as the Great Wall.

After listening to what the other party said, Han Xin felt that although Chen Ping was rumored to be a treacherous villain, he was indeed a person with insight and foresight.

Han Xin looked at the whistling arrow and asked, "What is the purpose of this arrow?"

Chen Ping said, "As long as Commandant Han can catch up with Maodun and fire an arrow from three miles away, the whistling arrow will make a sharp sound. My spies will hear the sound and respond, and they will assist the general in killing Maodun."

Han Xin said, "I would rather capture him alive."

Chen Ping then smiled and said, "Whether to collect the body or capture the enemy alive is up to Lieutenant Han, but this is a tremendous achievement and opportunity. General Han's horsemanship is superb, and he will surely win the first merit."

Han Xin countered, "Why would General Zhang Han entrust this matter to me?"

After saying this, Han Xin drew back the bowstring and released the arrow upwards. There was indeed a sound when the arrow shot upwards, but it was not very obvious.

Chen Ping, holding up his teacup, said again, "Thank you for your trouble, Commandant Han."

Han Xin put away his bow and collected the arrows that had fallen on the grass, then pressed on, asking, "Why me?"

A hint of guilt flashed in Chen Ping's eyes, but it was fleeting. He said, "Commander Han's horsemanship is superb."

Seeing Han Xin's skeptical expression, Chen Ping didn't offer any further explanation, as the more he explained, the more suspicious Han Xin would become.

Chen Ping simply stopped explaining. In fact, it wasn't just Han Xin's team; making these signal arrows was actually quite easy.

Chen Ping arranged for at least a dozen such teams to be distributed throughout the grasslands in search of Modu.

After resting until noon, Han Xin obtained fifty more warhorses from the Western Army and left thirty men to assist them.

Chen Ping watched as Han Xin's force of over sixty men left the camp and breathed a sigh of relief.

Back at the camp, Chen Ping met Li You and said, "Lieutenant Li, everything has been arranged."

Li Youzheng was looking at the documents from Guanzhong that had been delivered this time. He said, "The grain has all been delivered."

Chen Ping added, "Han Xin seems to be an extraordinary person."

Li You did not recognize Han Xin; he continued to look at the document in his hand.

Today, the Hexi Corridor and Longxi have become the main granaries of the Western Army, and the grain from these granaries can even feed Guanzhong.

For the army, this is undoubtedly the most reassuring thing.

However, Li You was not in the vanguard this time; he was only in charge of logistics in the rear.

Li You looked up at the person standing in front of him. Chen Ping was also sitting behind him, offering advice to General Zhang Han.

Chen Ping did indeed leave spies around Maodun.

I remember it was at the beginning of this year when General Zhang Han went to Mazong Mountain again. The general always said that the Hexi Corridor was not big enough and needed to be further developed. The Qin army's territory must extend to the west of Mazong Mountain.

On the same day that General Zhang Han went to Mazong Mountain, the Qin army encountered a group of Xiongnu people and captured their tribal leader.

To be precise, it was a fight between a group of Yuezhi people and a group of Xiongnu people.

Chen Ping used a pearl from the Western Regions to exchange for the Xiongnu tribal chief from the Yuezhi people.

Later, Chen Ping had someone cure the unconscious Xiongnu tribal chief.

Chen Ping, however, claimed that he had led his team to rescue him from the Yuezhi people.

This is where Chen Ping's cunning lies. The spy who was by Maodun's side had long been dissatisfied with Maodun's brutality and planned to repay Chen Ping for saving his life. He even made a vow at the foot of the snow mountain.

And so, this prisoner of war, who was actually bought from the Yuezhi people, returned to Maodun's side, but had to serve Chen Ping for his life.

There are always coincidences in this world that are beyond comprehension. And these are precisely the kinds of things Chen Ping excels at.

If that Xiongnu tribal chief really killed Modu, and Chen Ping then told him the truth, I wonder what he would think.

Getting too close to someone like Chen Ping is really uncomfortable; I worry that one day he might betray me.

Over the years, Chen Ping has been collecting information about the Western Regions and the Xiongnu people.

If all these messages were compiled into a book, it could fill a cart.

Through years of observation, it can be seen that although Modu killed Touman Chanyu and destroyed the Donghu people in the east, he did receive the support of many Xiongnu tribes at that time, and they supported him.

However, times have changed, and many years have passed. The Xiongnu people have also seen through Modu's brutality. Even though Modu established many rules to strengthen the Xiongnu cavalry and distribute the spoils of war according to the rules.

In Chen Ping’s view, Maodun’s biggest failure was this: what does it mean to distribute spoils of war according to the rules?
The Xiongnu, skilled in plunder, had long been accustomed to keeping what they plundered for themselves, including people and livestock.

In the first few years, several tribes did follow Maodun's rules, but this distribution system soon attracted much dissatisfaction.

Modu's infamous reputation made the Xiongnu people dare not speak out against him, but now it seems that the Xiongnu are not a monolithic group. Many people are dissatisfied with Modu's brutality and his actions.

Compared to Modu, what was the Qin army like?
The Qin army was known for its commitment to keeping its word, its adherence to promises, and its skill in rewarding merit.

With this comparison, Chen Ping naturally persuaded the tribal chief.

Furthermore, Chen Ping promised the other party that he would have the best pasture on the grassland.

However, this promise was just something Chen Ping said casually, and since General Zhang Han didn't agree, it didn't count.

Chen Ping only wanted to manipulate the other party; as for whether the promises were true or false, that could only be discussed later.

In the northern desert, when the remnants of the Linhu tribe on the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains sounded the horn, they wanted to inform the Xiongnu that the Qin army had marched north.

But their bugle calls were ultimately drowned out by the Qin army's iron cavalry.

The Qin army split into three routes and, in just half a night, annihilated three thousand cavalrymen of the Hujie tribe stationed west of Juyan Lake.

Subsequently, General Meng Tian's Qin army crossed the Wuhai Sea of ​​the Xiongnu in just two days.

The Qin army's black flags fluttered as cavalry swept across the northern desert, the cold wind howling and snow falling on their black armor.

The Xiongnu watched as the Qin cavalrymen sat on their horses, their feet firmly planted in the stirrups, displaying unparalleled bravery and skill.

Meng Tian's military strategy was characterized by speed, and he was also adept at large-scale operations.

The Qin army marched north in three directions, and in just two days, 30,000 cavalry swept across the northern desert, annihilating the Xiongnu Loufan King and the newly appointed Baiyang King, and killing all the warriors of the two tribes.

Just like in the war at Helan Mountain, Meng Tian showed no mercy, and the mass grave from that time still exists today.

This time, Meng Tian went north again.

Another day later, the King of the Southern Xiongnu was beheaded by General Meng Tian.

The Qin army won several great victories, acquiring hundreds of thousands of livestock and more than 100,000 prisoners of war, all of whom were relocated to the south of the Gobi Desert.

At this moment, the Donghu Wuhuan king and the Linhu king, who were allied with Modu, were terrified by the Qin army's swift expedition and remained in the east, not daring to make any rash moves.

The two Donghu tribes were originally allied with Modu Chanyu. Now, when the Donghu Wuhuan king woke up, he found the northern desert covered with the black flags of the Qin army, and realized that the sky had fallen.

You know, the King of Wuhuan just took a nap like usual, so how did he end up like this overnight?

Meng Tian's army's blitzkrieg in the northern desert had not yet stopped, and the army headed straight for the Xiongnu's northern sea.

Under the biting cold wind, the Qin soldiers' hair and beards were covered with a layer of ice crystals. This time, Meng Tian's army had no intention of retreating after killing enough people in the northern desert.

On the second night, the Qin army annihilated the three thousand cavalry of the Hujie tribe.

Before news of the Hujie tribe's crushing defeat could reach Beihai, the Qin army marched north and headed straight for Modu's Beihai royal court, reaching Beihai territory ahead of time.

The Qin army reached the North Sea with almost unbelievable speed.

Meng Tian's army stormed into the camp where the Xiongnu people lived.

The Qin army caught up with the Left Wise King of the Chanyu at the Orkhon River and captured Modu's son alive.

Modu's younger brother fled to the Western Regions, but was intercepted and killed by Qin cavalry who were searching for Modu.

Before Maodun's two uncles could even leave their tents, they were pierced by the Qin army's long spears.

When the sun shines once again on the North Sea in the northern desert, the bloodshed here proclaims the Qin army's determination to destroy the Xiongnu.

In this battle, from the day the army began until the fourth day, Meng Tian annihilated 20,000 cavalry of the Loufan Baidi tribe, 15,000 cavalry of the Southern Xiongnu King, and 30,000 cavalry of the Left and Right Guli Kings of the Xiongnu.

The number of Xiongnu beheaded is no longer relevant; in this decisive battle in the northern desert, Meng Tian's army swept across the northern desert in a complete victory.

This uprooted Modu's foundation and power.

At that moment, Han Xin was following the trail of a cavalry unit.

Han Xin, unaware of the great victory in the northern desert, observed the footprints on the ground and asked the squad leader beside him, "Are there camels here?"
The squad leader said, "There are many camels in the Hexi Corridor. Those animals smell terrible, but they have extremely good endurance."

Han Xin gazed into the distance and said, "Is the Lesser Yuezhi to the northwest from here?"

This time, the squad leader riding on the side did not reply. He didn't know anything about these things. Captain Han was knowledgeable and experienced, and had been following the cavalry's tracks for three days.

Han Xin muttered to himself, "Ahead lies the Altai Mountains."

Han Xin looked solemn as he pondered something when he saw another Qin army following behind.

Without saying a word, the other party headed towards the Altai Mountains.

Would Maodun really go to the Altai Mountains?

That was the territory of the Yuezhi people, who hated Modu to the core.

This is a large lake, and it was from here that the Yuezhi people rose to prominence.

Maodun stood by the river, his eyes wide as he looked around. He remembered this place and would never forget it, for the Yuezhi people had humiliated him here years ago.

This place is located northwest of the Hexi Corridor, where the Qin army was entrenched, and the area is mostly quicksand.

Maodun remembered every single stretch of quicksand here clearly.

After drinking several mouthfuls of lake water, Maodun felt much better. Behind him, several tribal chiefs were arguing about whether to return to the northern desert.

Once they return to the northern desert, they can lead their Xiongnu cavalry to defeat the Qin army and cross the Great Wall.

Maodun sat by the lake and slapped the back of his head in frustration, regretting that he had let his guard down and gone to Yabulai Mountain for the sacrifice.

Who would have thought that this moment of letting their guard down would lead to them being surrounded and attacked by the Qin army for several days.

They have finally managed to escape the Qin army's encirclement and find a chance to catch their breath.

(End of this chapter)