Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 131 The Hunting Ground (Please continue reading)

Dust filled the air on the road leading to the coal mine.

The newly recruited laborers included both local farmers who were not working in the fields and newly arrived migrants. Under the command of the supervising officials, they shouted slogans and worked hard to level the roadbed and dig drainage ditches. Simple wheelbarrows loaded with gravel and earth shuttled back and forth.

Accompanied by Han Ji, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and others, Zhang Xian inspected the area on horseback.

Dressed in simple military uniform, his gaze swept across the bustling construction site, over the laborers who, though drenched in sweat, had bright eyes.

He knew that the completion of this road meant more jobs.

"My lord," Han Ji said, pointing to the mine pit that was already showing its outline in the distance.

"The shallow, low-quality coal has piled up like mountains. As you instructed, we are speeding up the grinding and trial production of honeycomb briquettes."

The excavated shaft has reached a depth of over ten feet, and the coal quality is significantly better than that found on the surface. Master Tong has already taken a batch to test-fire coke.

Zhang Xian nodded: "Good, the road must be built solidly. In the future, this road will definitely be bustling with carriages and horses. Rather than making repairs later, it's better to perfect it from the beginning."
For a mine to operate safely, every worker carries the weight of a family on their shoulders. We must never forget why we are here.

Wages and meals were paid on time and in full.

"promise!"

Han Jizhen responded.

“Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun!” Zhang Xian looked north.

"Your subordinates are here!" Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun replied with clasped hands.

"How are the drills going for the new recruits in the Crossing the Liaodong Camp and the Cavalry Camp?"

Huang Zhong's voice boomed: "Reporting to my lord! The four thousand new soldiers, though not as fierce as the veterans, have clear orders and are ready to form ranks! The Mountain Battalion is fully equipped with six hundred sets of heavy armor, and the Wind, Forest, and Fire Battalions are also fully equipped with weapons and equipment! They are ready for battle!"

Zhao Yun's eyes sharpened: "Reporting to my lord! Two thousand cavalrymen are skilled in horsemanship, and their small-scale charges are already taking shape! They are perfectly capable of patrolling and fighting!"

"Good!" A glint flashed in Zhang Xian's eyes!
"Order! Five days from now, the Wind Battalion will be relocated to Mayi! The Forest Fire Battalion and the Forest Fire Battalion will be relocated to the foot of the northern mountains of Loufan. The Mountain Battalion will be stationed at Luchi, and the Cavalry Battalion will advance to patrol the area around Qiangyin and Wuzhou! Objective: To wipe out all Hu cavalry outposts that dare to show their faces north of Luchi! Protect our trade routes and safeguard our border people!"

"Your subordinates obey!" Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun responded in unison, their voices echoing across the land, carrying a long-suppressed sharpness and killing intent.

"Your Excellency has arrived!"

"The subordinate is here!"

"I have drafted a document and will send it to Governor Ding today, informing him that I am planning to sweep the border!"

"promise!"

Bingzhou, Yinguan.

Inside the study of the prefect's residence, the charcoal fire made the air somewhat hot and dry.

Ding Yuan still regarded this place as his governor's residence, instead of going to the governor's office designated by the court. The reason was simple: only here could he control his Bingzhou cavalry.

He sat upright behind a large wooden desk, holding a neatly written official document in his hand.

The bright red seal of the "Protector of the Xiongnu General's Office" was particularly eye-catching.

The document was written with respectful language, yet every word was like a knife: "To secure the border and protect the merchants and people, the cavalry battalion of this department will soon patrol the border areas of Qiangyin and Wuzhou to wipe out the nomadic cavalry and patrols, and to pacify the region..."

"Snapped!"

With a sharp crack, Ding Yuan slammed the document down hard on the smooth desk, making the wolf-hair brush on the pen holder jump wildly. His face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water, and his eyes were blazing with anger.

He felt that his rights were being challenged!

"Arrogant!" Ding Yuan's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a chilling undertone.

"Suppress the barbarian cavalry? Patrol the borderlands? Does Zhang Xian think the grasslands are his backyard?! He's only trained his troops for a few days, and he dares to extend his claws to Qiangyin and Wuzhou?"
That was the Xianbei's hunting grounds, the place where the Xiongnu rode their horses! What did he think his cavalry were? Heavenly soldiers? They were courting death!

Lu Bu, who was standing to the side, opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

The image of Huang Zhong's sword flashing like it could split mountains and split rocks flashed through my mind, as did the unfathomable pressure of Zhang Xian.

However, Ding Yuan's rage at this moment was like a solid ice wall, freezing the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

"Father, please calm down." Lü Bu finally lowered his eyelids and said in a low voice, "Zhang Zhonglang is indeed quite capable. His methods of training troops are quite rigorous."

"Skill?" Ding Yuan suddenly looked up, his sharp gaze sweeping across Lü Bu's face like a knife.

"Fengxian! Are you scared by him, or are you blinded by his petty favors? Battles on the grasslands are no child's play! The barbarian cavalry come and go like the wind, their movements unpredictable! His small force wouldn't even make a splash if they were thrown in! Just wait and see, in a few days, he won't even have a grave to cry at!"

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth on the thick carpet, his wide robe sleeves stirring up a gust of wind.

The study was silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire. Lü Bu stood silently, his eyes filled with longing.

More than ten days later.

Even in late spring, the cold wind on the Bingbei Grassland still carries a biting chill.

The grassland, a tapestry of withered yellow and sporadic new green stretches to the horizon, so vast it's unsettling. Only the black specks of vultures circling overhead and the occasional wisps of smoke rising from the distant horizon, representing the tribes of the grasslands, hint at the dangers lurking beneath this seemingly desolate land.

The two thousand elite cavalrymen of the Lüqi Cavalry Camp, like unsheathed blades, cautiously deployed across this vast hunting ground.

They did not gather in one place, but rather operated in well-trained hundred-man squads as their basic combat units, like sharp hooks on a huge fishing net, separated by miles, yet maintaining close communication.

Each team is equipped with several shrewd border scouts who have been dealing with the grassland people for many years, who patrol and scout ahead and on the flanks of the main force like eagles.

The horses' hooves pounded on the frozen earth and withered grass, producing a dull, rhythmic sound. The occasional light tapping of armor plates was the only metallic echo in this silence. The cavalrymen's wary eyes swept over every undulating hill and every bush that might be hiding enemies.

"Report—!" A scout galloped back from the northwest, kicking up a trail of dust. He reined in Zhao Yun's horse, which was puffing out thick white smoke.

"General! A small group of Xiongnu cavalry has been spotted ten miles northwest! About thirty riders, driving over a hundred cattle and sheep, are moving north! Judging from the direction, they seem to be heading back to their winter camp!" The scout spoke very quickly, slightly out of breath.

Zhao Yun reined in his white warhorse, his silver armor gleaming coldly in the thin sunlight. His young face was calm as still water, his gaze sharp as a blade as he swept across the scene before him.

“Thirty riders…driving livestock…” Deputy General Zhang Liao rode forward and whispered, “General, this is likely a decoy, or a reconnaissance force.”

"Whether it's bait or a scout, once we've run into it, we can't let it go."

Zhao Yun's voice was not loud, but it carried a resolute chill: "Order the hundred-man squads on the left and right flanks to converge here! My troops will advance! Wen Yuan, you lead the archer cavalry to cover the rear, and await my orders!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Liao solemnly accepted the order.

Commands were swiftly transmitted via short horn calls and flags.

Upon hearing the news, two nearby hundred-man squads immediately changed direction, flowing like streams into a river, and moved towards the central army where Zhao Yun was located.

The entire cavalry suddenly increased their speed, shifting from cautious patrolling to a poised and ready-to-go charge. Even during the charge, they maintained a relatively disciplined formation, like a silent torrent of steel sweeping towards the direction indicated by the scouts.

The ten-mile journey was covered in the blink of an eye under the galloping hooves of warhorses.

After crossing a low grassy slope, the target came into view!
About thirty Xiongnu cavalrymen were lazily driving a herd of livestock mixed with cattle and sheep along a shallow, dry riverbed.

They were dressed in haphazard fur robes, their weapons casually hanging beside their saddles, clearly unsuspecting, and some were even talking and laughing loudly.

Clearly, they had not expected to encounter the elite Han army here.

"Archers! Advance! Three rapid volleys! Cover the area!" Zhao Yun's voice was icy cold, cutting through the wind.

Zhang Liao's archer cavalry, who had been poised to attack, charged forward like arrows released from a bow upon receiving the order, suddenly accelerating out of the main formation!
Nearly two hundred horse archers drew their bows in perfect unison as they galloped away! The composite recurve bows specially made by the Lüsi Craftsmanship Workshop were drawn to their fullest extent, and the bowstrings emitted a heart-pounding hum!

"put!"

A dull, terrifying twang shattered the tranquility of the grassland! Two hundred feathered arrows soared into the air, tracing dense, deadly parabolas like a sudden rain of death, instantly engulfing the thirty Xiongnu cavalrymen and their surrounding livestock!
"Puff-puff-!"

The dull thuds of arrows piercing flesh and embedding themselves in frozen ground blended together!
Caught off guard, the Xiongnu cavalry fell from their horses with screams, like stalks of wheat swept by a sickle! Warhorses neighed in terror, and cattle and sheep scattered in panic!
After three rounds.

"Wedge formation! Leave no one alive!" Zhao Yun pointed his silver spear forward, his voice like thunder!

The Luqi cavalry, which had been unable to contain themselves any longer, exploded like ignited explosives! With Zhao Yun as the sharpest arrowhead, they instantly formed a huge cone, crashing into the chaotic, blood-red land with the force of a thunderbolt!
The horses' hooves crushed the pebbles of the riverbed, trampling the corpses of fallen men and horses! The few surviving Xiongnu cavalrymen tried to resist, but faced with absolute power, speed, and discipline, they were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

The gleaming ring-pommel sword, propelled by the horse's ferocious speed, easily cleaved through the simple leather armor, sending up plumes of scalding blood mist! The screams abruptly ceased.

The battle, from start to finish, was breathtakingly fast.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, this small riverbank had been completely transformed into a scene of carnage. Thirty Xiongnu cavalrymen, along with their livestock, were almost entirely slaughtered, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and the stench of animal entrails.

The Lüsi cavalry quickly dispersed, silently and efficiently surveying the battlefield, finishing off any surviving enemies, and collecting scattered arrows, usable warhorses, and weapons.

Several knights lit torches and threw them without hesitation at the Hun horse saddlebags and several abandoned small leather tents scattered with rudimentary supplies such as furs and dried meat.

Flames rose, engulfing everything that represented this small, makeshift camp. Black smoke billowed straight into the sky.

"Retreat!" Zhao Yun's voice remained cold and ruthless, devoid of any joy of victory.

He turned his horse around, his gaze sweeping over his rapidly assembled, blood-stained men and the few herders who had fled into the depths of the grass in the distance.

He knew that the thick smoke and blood were the best messengers.

……

Dozens of miles away, in the direction from which the thick smoke rose, was a low-lying area lush with water and grass.

There are over a hundred gray-white felt tents pitched here, which looks like the winter camp that the Huns are coming to set up.

In front of a slightly larger golden-domed tent in the center stood a banner painted with a soaring eagle, indicating that this was a camp of a powerful Xiongnu clan.

At this moment, the camp was shrouded in a suppressed anger.

Several ragged, pale-faced herdsmen knelt on the cold grass, crying incoherently in the Xiongnu language before the main tent to a Xiongnu leader who was exceptionally tall, dressed in a magnificent fur robe, and with a livid face.

"...The Han cavalry...charged in like a torrent...arrows...a rain of arrows blocked out the sun...Captain Kumu and his men...didn't even have a chance to draw their swords...they were all dead...the cattle and sheep...were all robbed and killed...the tents were burned...Gods..." An old herdsman pounded the ground, tears streaming down his face.

"Their arrows... can pierce through Captain Kumu's leather armor! And there are strange symbols engraved on the arrow shafts!" Another younger herdsman added, his face full of fear, his voice trembling.

“Symbols?” The thick eyebrows of the man with the brows furrowed into knots, and the muscles on his rugged face twitched like those of an enraged lion.

He suddenly kicked over the golden bowl of mare's milk wine in front of him, spilling the fragrant liquid onto the expensive wool carpet.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Thirty brave warriors with swords, slaughtered like sheep by Han dogs?!" His roar was like muffled thunder, making the kneeling herdsmen tremble: "Did you see who was leading them? Which Han general was it?"

"Yes... he was a young general in silver armor, riding a white horse... as fast as... as a white wolf on the grassland..." the herdsman stammered in reply.

"Silver armor...white horse..." Gu Qi's eyes flashed with ferocity, and his teeth clenched so hard they clicked.

He suddenly drew his scimitar from his waist, its gleaming blade reflecting a blinding light in the sunlight: "Gather all the men who can mount a horse! Bring your bows and arrows and scimitars! I want to use that Han general's head as a wine bowl!"

"Chanyu, please calm down!" A soft yet steady voice suddenly rang out.

A thin, middle-aged man dressed in a dark black leather robe had quietly appeared beside Gu Qi.

He had a thin face and deep, dark eyes, but his appearance indicated he was a Xianbei.

He raised his hand and gently pressed it on Gu Qi's arm, which was bulging with veins from his rage. The movement seemed casual, but it carried an undeniable power.

"If I'm not mistaken, this Han general in white horse and silver armor should be the Colonel Zhao Yun I mentioned earlier."

He spoke softly, but his eyes recalled the Han Chinese who had sent a letter to his tribe some time ago.

A smile crept across his face. That's the good thing about the Han people; they appear united on the surface, but in reality, they stab each other in the back. If it weren't for reliable intelligence, he wouldn't have had much contact with the Xiongnu.

There is a deep-seated hatred between them!

"Murong Han! When did you, you Xianbei dog, start learning to behave like those Han dogs? Look at your appearance, do you still have even a trace of the bravery of a steppe man!"

Gu Qi was still burning with rage. So it wasn't your people who died, huh?
"The Chanyu's anger is like a wildfire that can burn away the enemy, but it may also burn himself."

Murong Han's voice betrayed no emotion: "There's a saying among the Han people: 'A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan.'"

Zhao Yun's cavalry is highly mobile, well-equipped, and possesses formidable archery skills. Even if we were to win a direct confrontation, the blood of my steppe warriors would stain this land red—a loss far outweighing the gain.

Gu Qi's chest heaved violently as he glared fiercely at Murong Han: "So you mean I have to watch him kill and burn on my grasslands, plunder my people? How can I, Gu Qi, then lead my people?!"

"No."

Murong Han slowly shook his head, a cold, snake-like smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"When wolves hunt cunning gazelles, they never swarm them. Instead, they patiently drive them away, making their prey panic, tired, and revealing their weaknesses, ultimately leading them into a trap they have already dug in despair."

No matter how strong the Han cavalry were, they were nothing more than lone sheep wandering into a pack of wolves. What could they rely on? Superior equipment or strict commands?

Perhaps in Han territory, we should avoid their sharp edge.

But this is the grassland! We must leverage our strengths! What are our strengths? They are this boundless depth, our swift movement like the wind, and our ubiquitous eyes and ears.

His withered finger pointed southeast, then slowly traced across the vast grassland: "Let the eyes of all the warriors light up, keep a close eye on that Han cavalry! Let every move they make, every raid they plunder, every seemingly insignificant 'victory' be clearly etched in our eyes!"
Find out their activity range, their supply routes, and especially the route they take back to their lair after each successful raid!

A sharp, gleaming pleasure flashed in Murong Han's eyes: "The Han cavalry are arrogant. After their initial victory, they will become complacent. They will only see the scattered cattle and sheep and the broken small tribes."

But they fail to see the large net slowly tightening behind these 'bait'! When every attack seems successful, and every retreat goes unchecked, their vigilance will melt away like ice and snow, and then…

His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with chilling killing intent: "When they think they can roam freely across this grassland, that will be the day we seize their throat and devour them whole, skin and bones!"
Let those Han soldiers who have entered our territory become the best offerings for our steppe warriors to offer to the gods!

The anger in Gu Qi's eyes was gradually replaced by cruelty.

He stared intently at Murong Han: "You make perfect sense! I'll listen to you this once!"

"The Chanyu only needs to restrain the warriors of each tribe and be patient for now."

Murong Han was confident, his black robe swaying gently in the wind, like the shadow itself.

"Let the wolf pack panic and start tearing each other apart."

As fear and anger spread across the grasslands, and as all the tribes tasted the excruciating pain inflicted by the Han cavalry… this net was naturally woven, and I had already chosen the opening for the Han cavalry to close it.

'The Han people love to stab you in the back; I never expected them to even hand over the location for their defensive camp this time.'

'Zhang Xian. I've never heard of that name before, but this time, you've definitely come to the wrong place!'

A different kind of light also shone in Murong Han's eyes. If he could defeat this Han army, his tribe would have enough prestige to incorporate the surrounding tribes. It would be time for the grasslands to have a true Great Chanyu!

　Both Gu Qi and Murong Han are fictional characters.

　　The title "Shanyu" does not mean "King of the Xiongnu"; it only represents the tribal leader.

　　The title "Da Chanyu" was actually used by the Xiongnu kings to whom the steppe tribes submitted.

　　However, the Xiongnu people of the Eastern Han Dynasty had long lost the power they had during the Western Han Dynasty.

　　The power of the grasslands was highly fragmented, divided among various ethnic groups such as the Xianbei, Wuhuan, Hu, Qiang, and Xiongnu, with no signs of unification.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)