A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Li Guang and others were somewhat dissatisfied with Emperor Wu of Han for placing such a close relative in the army. They were all veteran generals and looked down on Huo Qubing, this young upstart. They thought that once on the battlefield, Huo Qubing might be so scared that he would wet his pants.

Li Guang, in particular, looked down on Huo Qubing after learning of Huo Qubing's spoiled behavior in the army.

They mocked Huo Qubing in front of Emperor Wu of Han and a large group of generals.

"Is he even fully grown up yet? Isn't he afraid of wetting himself on the battlefield?"

Huo Qubing was so angry that he wanted to duel him on the spot.

Ultimately, it was only after being appeased by Emperor Wu of Han and Wei Lu, especially Wei Lu's remark that on the battlefield, merit is determined by military achievements, that he barely managed to suppress his anger. Looking at Li Guang provocatively, he asked, "Do you dare to compare with me in this war and see who has made greater contributions?"

"Why not?"

Li Guang laughed heartily and said to Gongsun He beside him, "He actually dares to challenge me."

"A little brat who doesn't know his place."

"My Li family lineage traces back to Li Xin, a famous general of the Qin Dynasty, and we are a family of generals."

"I, Li Guang, have been participating in the war against the Xiongnu since the reign of Emperor Taizong, and have repeatedly made meritorious contributions."

"I've fought more battles than you've eaten meals!"

"During the subsequent Rebellion of the Seven States and the Xiongnu invasion, I made outstanding contributions and killed countless enemies. I guarded the border for decades, and the Xiongnu people were terrified of me."

"The Xiongnu people all turned pale at the mere mention of my name, Li Guang, and respectfully called me the Flying General."

"Are you scared now?"

"If you just say you're wrong, I'll pretend you never said anything."

There are reasons why Li Guang was never granted a title in history.

He accepted the title and reward from the King of Liang during the Rebellion of the Seven States, and his subsequent actions showed a complete lack of emotional intelligence.

In addition, he was unlucky and reckless, so he was never able to be ennobled.

Huo Qubing was specially sent into the army by Emperor Wu of Han.

It can be said that Huo Qubing was the face of Emperor Wu of Han. Even if you don't respect the monk, you should respect the Buddha. Li Guang's disrespect for Huo Qubing in front of Emperor Wu is a slap in the face to Emperor Wu.

It is estimated that Li Guang will be punished by Emperor Wu of Han.

Unless you perform an extraordinary feat, it will be very difficult to get promoted.

"You were so powerful before because I hadn't grown up yet. Now that I've grown up, you old-generation generals should be swept into the dustbin of history."

"Let me, this brat you look down on, teach you how to fight a war."

"You want to teach me how to fight a war?"

Li Guang couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Let me ask you, have you read the Six Secret Teachings and the Three Strategies?"

Have you read Sun Tzu's Art of War? Which of Wu Zi's Art of War or Wei Liao Zi have you read?

"I bet he hasn't even learned all the characters yet!"

Huo Qubing smiled dismissively.

"If military strategy is useful, then what's the point of having geniuses?"

"I don't study military strategy because I don't need to; I'm better than those who write military strategy."

Huo Qubing's arrogance offended a large group of people, who, according to Huo Qubing, belonged to the older generation of generals who should be swept into the dustbin of history.

And then there are the descendants of those military families.

What they are most proud of is the military treatise passed down from their ancestors, but now Huo Qubing discards it like a worn-out shoe, and even claims that he has surpassed their ancestors.

It would be strange if they gave Huo Qubing a friendly look.

Wei Qing quickly stopped the impetuous Huo Qubing and smiled apologetically at everyone.

Emperor Wu of Han snorted coldly and looked at Li Guang with icy eyes.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that Wei Lu's expression was normal.

He believed that Wei Lu would never deliberately harm Huo Qubing out of respect for him.

In June of the 12th year of Emperor Wu of Han's reign, the Han army was fully prepared for battle.

Emperor Wu of Han held a grand oath-taking ceremony in Chang'an, handing over the tiger tally, a symbol of military power, to Wei Lu and Wei happy.

The five-year-long Han-Xiongnu War officially began.

Wei Lu chose the same strategy as Wei Qing in history: starting from Dingxiang, he sought out the main force of the Xiongnu for a direct decisive battle.

Huo Qubing thought about it carefully and realized that if he just followed the army into battle, he wouldn't gain much merit.

He only had 1000 men under his command, and no matter how brave they were, they could not compare to Li Guang.

Moreover, even he had to acknowledge Li Guang's martial prowess.

To win, to earn the respect of the world, to repay His Majesty's grace, and to make the entire Han Dynasty know Huo Qubing, we must find a new path.

Huo Qubing spent the entire night in his tent, constantly observing the troop deployments between the Han and the Xiongnu.

Ultimately, he chose to take a risky approach.

Early the next morning, Huo Qubing found Wei Lu, the commander of this war.

Chao Weilu requested not to follow the main army, but to seek opportunities for battle on his own and form his own army.

Wei Lu looked at the young man in front of him in surprise. It was extremely dangerous for a group of only 1000 people to want to form their own path.

Upon learning of the Han army's assembly, the Xiongnu also gathered their troops and assembled towards the royal court.

In a battle involving hundreds of thousands of troops, a mere thousand men thrown in wouldn't even make a ripple.

Are you sure?

Huo Qubing was, after all, personally appointed by Emperor Wu of Han, and even Wei Lu could not be ignored.

"I'm sure!"

"Anyway, my 1000 men won't play a significant role on the main battlefield, so it's better to make them a mobile force. Maybe they can play a decisive role in influencing the course of the battle."

"Aren't you afraid of death?"

Wei Lu asked.

With only 1000 men charging back and forth in the heart of the Xiongnu territory, the chances of survival were extremely slim, with over 90% likely to perish in the northern steppes.

If Huo Qubing were to die, Wei Lu would have to consider whether Emperor Wu of Han would think that the Wei family was targeting this young man whom Emperor Wu had personally groomed, whether they were protecting their family's power in the army, or whether they had any ulterior motives.

Huo Qubing noticed the hesitation in Wei Lu's eyes, so he spoke to Wei Lu.

"I am willing to sign a pledge to prove that this matter has nothing to do with you."

"You don't need to make any promises to me."

"Your army is based in the capital, not under my control."

Indeed, Huo Qubing's 1000 men belonged only to Emperor Wu of Han. Although they participated in the war, even Wei Lu did not have the legal authority to directly command them.

It is unclear whether Emperor Wu of Han intentionally or unintentionally overlooked this, but Wei Lu was able to directly command other armies, whether they belonged to the central army or the border army.

However, Huo Qubing's army was not part of the regular army organization. In terms of affiliation, it actually belonged to a personal guard that Emperor Wu of Han had created for himself.

The emperor's personal guards could not possibly fall under the sphere of influence of any single general, nor could any single general have any say in them.

A glint flashed in Huo Qubing's eyes; he understood the subtext in Wei Lu's words.

Since Huo Qubing's army was not under Wei Lu's control, he was naturally free to act as he pleased.

"Hmph, if you won't let me go, I'll go myself."

Huo Qubing snorted coldly, exchanged a knowing glance with Wei Lu, and stormed off from the camp.

Wei Lu took a deep look at Huo Qubing's departing figure. He had a feeling that this young man would give him a very big surprise.

Although there are only 1000 people, theoretically speaking, they cannot cause any damage at all.

He estimated that the Xiongnu had no fewer than 3 guards in Longcheng alone.

The other large tribes were in the same situation, with a considerable number of people guarding them to prevent surprise attacks by the Han army.

But there is a word called miracle.

He also hoped that the young man in front of him could create a miracle.