My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Liu Ju was more concerned about this.

"Thanks to the might of Your Highness's divine troops and the effectiveness of the surprise attack, our army suffered very few casualties, with fewer than a hundred killed and several hundred wounded, most of whom were minor injuries."

Wei Qing's tone was filled with barely suppressed excitement and emotion.

Such a result was almost unimaginable in previous battles against the Xiongnu.

Liu nodded, his gaze fixed on the boundless darkness to the north.

"Although the Left Wise King was defeated, his defeated troops fled north and must have reported the news to the other Xiongnu royal courts or most of the tribes. The other Xiongnu tribes, especially those who participated in this raid or colluded with it, have not yet paid the price."

Before he finished speaking, Huo Qubing swept over like a gust of wind. His young face showed no signs of fatigue from the fierce battle, only an even more fervent fighting spirit and desire.

He didn't even bother to wipe the bloodstains off his armor; his eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Cousin! The Left Wise King's forces have been defeated, but their scattered troops are perfect guides for us! Two hundred miles northwest of here lies an important summer pasture for the Right Wise King's forces, and many of their troops are involved in the raids."

"They must be unaware of the dramatic changes here and their defenses are lax! Give me five thousand... no, three thousand light cavalry, and a special chariot to clear the way. I will raid them day and night, and surely break through their camp and capture their chieftain!"

Wei Qing frowned slightly. Out of caution, he had intended to suggest that the entire army take a short rest to consolidate their gains while awaiting more accurate intelligence.

After all, they had been on a high-intensity march for several days and nights. If they continued to pursue them, something unexpected might happen.

However, Liu Ju raised his hand to stop Wei Qing from speaking.

"allow!"

Liu Ju's voice was resolute.

"As Qu Bing suggested! I will allocate three thousand of your most elite cavalry, with Li Gan as your deputy. The 'Breaking Chariot' (referring to his lead chariot) needs some maintenance and replenishment of arrows and fuel. The craftsmen from the Workshop will accompany you for support. I will also assign two transport wagons in better condition to you, carrying elite crossbowmen and necessary supplies, to serve as the vanguard for breaching fortifications!"

He paused, his tone chilling.

"This journey is not for plunder, nor for demonstration. Anyone who resists with weapons will be killed! All chieftains and nobles will be killed! All tribes that participated in this autumn's raids will have their tents burned and their livestock driven away!"

"I want the Xiongnu to know that those who offend our mighty Han, no matter how far away, will be punished, and their entire tribes will be implicated. There will be no exceptions!"

"Here you go!"

Huo Qubing clasped his hands in excitement, almost jumping up.

He immediately turned around and charged towards the resting troops like a cheetah, loudly calling out orders.

Liu Ju then looked at Wei Qing.

"General, this battlefield is now in your hands, along with General Cheng Bushi, to handle the aftermath. Take stock of the spoils, settle the prisoners, treat the wounded, and stabilize the lines. I will lead the remaining chariots and five thousand infantry and cavalry, following closely behind Qu Bing to provide support, and sweep away any other directions the Left Wise King's routed troops might have fled. Together, we will ensure the complete eradication of the Xiongnu forces in this area!"

Seeing that the Crown Prince had made up his mind, Wei Qing no longer hesitated and solemnly accepted the order.

"Your Highness, rest assured! I will handle this situation properly and ensure the supply lines remain open. Your Highness and Qubing are fighting on the front lines; please take care!"

……

Not far away, at one of the Right Wise King's camps.

This place is somewhat similar to the camp of the Left Wise King, but on a smaller scale.

The camp was located beside a small river, with yurts scattered around and cattle, sheep and horses roaming the nearby pastures.

Just before dawn, a dozen or so fleeing Xiongnu soldiers, their armor and weapons discarded and their spirits broken, galloped into the camp like stray dogs, startling the sentries and early-rising shepherds.

"Urgent military situation! Urgent military situation! We need to see the commander!"

The defeated leader tumbled off his horse, nearly collapsing to the ground, and stammered incoherently.

Soon, they were brought before Agula, a general under the Right Wise King who was in charge of the area.

Agula was in his prime, rough and suspicious by nature, and was quite displeased at being woken from his sleep.

"What's the panic? Did the Left Wise King not have enough celebratory wine and kick you out?"

Agula yawned and mocked.

He knew that the Left Wise King had raided the Han border a few days ago and reaped a great harvest.

"No...no! Lord Chief! Disaster! An absolute disaster!"

The fleeing soldiers' leader was deathly pale, his lips trembling.

"The Left Wise King's camp... is finished! Completely finished!"

"What's over? Explain yourself!"

Agula frowned, his sleepiness fading slightly.

"The Han people...the Han people are attacking!"

"Just attack! It's no big deal!"

Agula said indifferently.

"Not your average Han Chinese!"

One of the fleeing soldiers hurriedly spoke, gesturing with his hands to indicate his name.

"They...they ride self-propelled steel monsters! Their eyes are brighter than the sun, their roars louder than ten thousand bulls! They are invulnerable to swords and spears, and possess boundless strength!"

"That's right..."

Another defeated soldier cried out.

"Our warriors were crushed like grass! The camp was trampled flat! Lord Zuo Xian Wang... he's dead!"

After the words were spoken, the tent fell silent, then burst into uproarious laughter.

"Hahaha! Wunar, are you terrified by the Han people, or have you drunk too much of the Left Wise King's mare's milk wine and are having nightmares?" A centurion laughed and slammed his fist on the table.

"A steel monster? It can run on its own? Its eyes glow? You must have seen some kind of spirit from the grasslands and are just making this up!"

"Even if the Han army launches a full-scale attack, how could the ten thousand cavalry under the command of the Left Wise King be wiped out overnight? And killed in battle? Absurd!"

Agula smiled too, staring at the fleeing soldier leader.

"You said the Han Chinese have steel monsters, how many? What do they look like?"

"Three...no, four or five! They looked like huge chariots, but without horses! They were covered in iron, impervious to swords and arrows!"

He recalled for a moment and continued.

"When they ran, the ground shook and the sound was terrifying! Two eyes in front of us emitted a white light that blinded us! They charged into the camp, smashing everything in their path, and shooting arrows from within... We couldn't stop them at all!"

The fleeing soldier tried to gesture, but words were simply insufficient to accurately describe the object that was beyond his comprehension.

Agula's smile gradually faded.

If it's just one person talking nonsense, they might be terrified.

But the dozen or so defeated soldiers in front of him were all distraught, wounded, and their fear seemed genuine.

Furthermore, they claimed that the Left Wise King had died in battle...

This is not information that can be casually shared.

But... a car that moves on its own made of steel?

Glowing eyes?

This is utterly outrageous, beyond the comprehension of any warrior on the grasslands.

Agula is more inclined to believe that the Han people used some kind of unprecedented and powerful new type of chariot or weapon, combined with elite cavalry, to launch a surprise attack, catching the Left Wise King off guard.

These routed soldiers exaggerated their claims in their panic.

After all, they were fleeing in disarray, so how could they not exaggerate the enemy's strength?

"Even if the Han people had some new tricks, and the Left Wise King suffered a loss due to carelessness, it wouldn't have resulted in the complete annihilation of his army."

Agula pondered.

"You all go and rest first, then report back in detail. Pass down the order to strengthen the defenses of the camp on all sides, and send out scouts fifty li... no, a hundred li! To scout the movements of the Han army!"

He had just given the order and was preparing to convene his generals for discussion when suddenly—

"Thump...thump...buzz..."

It was extremely faint, but a familiar sensation came from beneath my feet.

A low, oppressive tremor, similar to that described by the fleeing soldiers, faintly came from the southeast.

Moreover, it is becoming clearer and stronger at an astonishing speed!

The laughter inside the tent abruptly stopped.

Agula suddenly stood up, listened intently, and his expression changed drastically.

"Report—!!!"