My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

A dusty, well-worn captain of the Imperial Guard strode in, knelt on one knee, and held aloft a sealed copper tube. His voice was slightly hoarse with excitement: "Reporting to the Lord! General Yu of the Jingnan Army has delivered an urgent report from eight hundred li away! Our army decisively defeated the Wuhuan rebel leader Wuyan in the north, beheading Wuyan in battle. We then penetrated deep into the grasslands, routing the Xianbei Kezui tribe in central China and capturing their leader Kezui and the Xianbei noble Kuitou alive! Wuyan's head, the prisoners Kezui and Kuitou are now being paraded through the streets as is customary! General Yu's detailed battle report is here!"

Quiet.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ju Shou's hand, which was stroking his beard, froze in mid-air. For the first time, astonishment appeared on Tian Feng's serious face. Guo Jia suddenly sat up straight, his lazy demeanor vanishing, and his eyes flashed with sharp light.

Even the usually composed Lu Zhi's face was filled with disbelief.

Ji Xuanyuan was the first to react, abruptly standing up, his voice trembling slightly: "Quickly! Submit the battle report!"

The guard stepped forward, carefully removed the sealing wax from the copper tube, and took out a roll of plain silk with fresh ink stains inside.

Ji Xuanyuan took it and quickly unfolded it.

The battle report was concise yet thrilling.

First, it is described how Wuyan was ambushed at Jundu Mountain, where he used crossbows and elite cavalry to defeat Wuyan, killing more than two thousand in battle.

The text then describes a light cavalry pursuit, encountering the remnants of Wuyan's forces and the Xianbei Kezui tribe on the grasslands. Taking advantage of the situation, the cavalry decisively defeats both enemies, leading to Wuyan's suicide and Kezui's capture. Finally, it mentions a surprise attack on Kezui's tribal headquarters, burning their supplies and capturing Kui Tou, the grandson of Tan Shihuai, who unexpectedly appeared in the tribe. The text details the casualties, spoils, and their disposal in a clear and organized manner.

"Good! Good! Good!" Ji Xuanyuan said "good" three times in a row. A sincere and bright smile bloomed on his usually calm face, completely dispelling the last trace of his sickly appearance and making him look radiant.

"Brother Yu, Fengxian, Yongzeng, and Zongxing, this battle has not only demonstrated the formidable reputation of our Jingnan Army, but also brought us unexpected joy!"

He handed the battle report to the impatient Guo Jia, who took it, and Ju Shou, Tian Feng, and Lu Zhi immediately gathered around to read it together.

"To kill Wuyan in battle is already a great achievement! To be able to penetrate deep into the grasslands, defeat a Xianbei tribe, and capture their leader alive!" After reading the report, Tian Feng could not suppress his excitement even on his usually stern face.

"And we've captured the chieftain! This young man is the grandson of Tan Shihuai, and he wields considerable influence in the eastern Xianbei region. His status is extraordinary! This victory far exceeded our expectations!"

Ju Shou took a deep breath to calm himself down and analyzed, "This battle is of great significance. First, Wu Yan was an important ally of Zhang Chun's rebel army. With his troops wiped out, the pressure on the rebel army in the Youbeiping direction will be greatly reduced, which may shake the rebel army's flank."

"Secondly, the heavy blow dealt to the Xianbei Kezui tribe, and the capture of its leader and noble chief, was enough to intimidate the tribes of the grasslands. In the short term, no one in the central or even eastern Xianbei region would dare to look south easily, thus buying time for our army to stabilize the northern border and focus on dealing with the main force of Zhang Chun's rebel army."

"Thirdly, such military achievements will surely be richly rewarded by the imperial court, and our lord's prestige will reach new heights!"

Lu Zhi, a seasoned strategist, was both pleased and worried: "His military achievements are outstanding and commendable, but... capturing Kui Tou may completely involve the Xianbei royal court. Although He Lian is mediocre, he still holds a position. The three Xianbei chieftains may not sit idly by and watch their nephew be captured by the Han court. The border situation may become even more complicated."

Guo Jia had quickly finished reading the battle report, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. He replied, "Lord Lu's concerns are quite valid, but it is also an opportunity. Kui Tou's special status makes him an excellent pawn. If used well, he may sow discord among the Xianbei, preventing them from invading the south, or even... be used by us. The key lies in how the court handles the situation and how we respond to the Xianbei's possible reaction."

He looked at Ji Xuanyuan, "Senior brother, the most urgent task is to immediately report this matter, along with the head of Wuyan, the captured Ke Zui, and Kui Tou, to the imperial court! This is a great achievement that will demonstrate national power and boost morale, and it must be carried out with great fanfare!"

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, having calmed down: "Fengxiao is absolutely right. Immediately draft a memorial in the name of Ji Xuanyuan, Prefect of Zhuojun and General Who Subdues the Barbarians, to report the victory, detailing in detail the bravery of the Jingnan Army soldiers in fighting the enemy and displaying their might on the frontier. The memorial should be written with fervor and passion, highlighting the might of our army!"

He paused, then continued, "At the same time, in the name of Xiang Yu, the commander-in-chief of the Jingnan Army, a detailed account of the battle and a list of those to be commended are attached to request rewards for the participating soldiers. Wu Yan's head, Ke Zui's head, and Kui Tou's head are to be escorted separately in prison carts, with reliable elite troops dispatched to expedite their delivery to Luoyang via the paved road! Appropriate publicity can be given along the way to boost the morale of the army and the people!"

"Our lord is wise!" everyone agreed in unison.

"also."

Ji Xuanyuan's gaze swept over the crowd: "This great victory is inseparable from Yuan Hao and Gongyu's overall coordination of logistics, Fengxiao's strategic planning, and even more so from the divine crossbows and horse equipment produced by the Academy of Natural Sciences, as well as the valiant efforts of all the soldiers. Order that Zhuojun celebrate for three days, the fallen soldiers be given generous compensation, the seriously wounded be treated to the best of their ability, and the meritorious soldiers be listed and rewarded in the prefecture first, with the full amount to be made up after the imperial court's awards!"

"promise!"

The order was quickly relayed. Soon, the entire Zhuojun was in an uproar!

First came the deafening sound of gongs and drums and the cheers of the people from the direction of the city gate.

Those were the severed head of Wu Yan and the prison cart carrying Ke Zui and Kui Tou, paraded through the streets.

Although ordinary people were not very clear about the identity of the leader, the titles such as "the great man of the central Xianbei" and "the grandson of Tan Shihuai" were enough for them to understand the significance of the captive.

What's more, there's also Wu Yan's traitorous head, which, even after being treated, is still hideous!

"May the Jingnan Army be victorious!"

"General Ji is mighty!"

"Kill the barbarians! Protect our homeland!"

The cheers grew louder and louder.

The roadsides were packed with people, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.

For a long time, the shadow of the Hu cavalry invading the south has loomed over the northern frontier. Now, our own army has not only defeated the rebellious Wuhuan, but has also penetrated deep into the grasslands and captured the Xianbei chieftain. What a triumphant moment!

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of Zhuojun County with the help of the parade and the deliberate promotion by the authorities, and then rapidly spreading to the surrounding counties and prefectures.

Throughout Youzhou, whether in government or among the common people, the names "Jingnan Army," "Xiang Yu," "Lü Bu," "Ran Min," and "Yang Zaixing" were repeatedly mentioned, closely linked to their legendary victories of "defeating the Hu barbarians" and "capturing the enemy chieftain alive."

Inside the prefect's mansion, Ji Xuanyuan stood alone by the window, gazing at the jubilant crowds faintly visible on the distant street, listening to the distant cheers, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

There is certainly joy in it.

This battle was indeed a great victory with significant strategic importance, further elevating his and the Jingnan Army's prestige to new heights.

In the face of impending chaos, having such prestige and a powerful army capable of fighting tough battles and deterring neighboring countries is undoubtedly a valuable asset.

But Lu Zhi and Guo Jia's reminders still echoed in my ears.

Capturing the leader is a double-edged sword.

Even if the Xianbei royal court and Helian were utterly incompetent and cowardly, they could not possibly remain unresponsive to the capture of their nephew and the massacre of their entire tribe.

Wolves on the grasslands are known for holding grudges.

The northern border region may find it difficult to achieve true peace in the future.

And then there's the imperial court... Emperor Ling is currently indulging in pleasure, and the Ten Attendants are controlling the government. How will they react to such an amazing military achievement from the border region that could potentially disrupt some kind of balance?

Should we reward the border generals handsomely, or suppress them with suspicion?

Liu Yan has now left office, and the new governor of Youzhou, Liu Yu, is known for his pacification. What attitude will he take towards this "overly forceful" victory?

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Ji Xuanyuan uttered these words softly, his eyes regaining their firmness and sharpness.

"Now that we have embarked on this path, there is no turning back. Our reputation has been established, and we have a strong army at our disposal. The next step is to find the most favorable gaps and opportunities for us to take root and grow stronger amidst the imperial court's rewards, Liu Yu's arrival, and even the possible reaction from the Xianbei."

He turned around and looked at the map of Youzhou and the northern grasslands hanging in the hall. His gaze fell on the location representing the Xianbei royal court at Tanhan Mountain, and then slowly moved towards Luoyang.

"Kui Tou... perhaps he really is a good pawn, just as Feng Xiao said," Ji Xuanyuan murmured to himself.

"Let's see how Liu Hong plays."

Outside the window, the celebrations in Zhuojun continued, the cheers reaching the heavens.

The chain reaction triggered by this good news has only just begun.

It not only shocked Youzhou, but is also spreading rapidly along the official road towards Luoyang, the center of the empire.