Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 974: The Final Battle in Front of Yanmen Pass
Ma Chao had marched his troops into Bingzhou since the Lunar New Year, advancing with unstoppable force. By mid-July, he had conquered nearly all of Bingzhou. Aside from the clash with the Xiongnu, Bingzhou had not experienced any major, ferocious battles. The governors, officials, and common people of Bingzhou were filled with joy, each carrying their own pots and water, eager to serve Ma Chao.
It turned out that for years, the imperial army had barely set foot in Bingzhou, leaving the people suffering. Each time a foreign invaded, they were met with burning, looting, and wanton violence. Bingzhou's local officials were helpless against these intrusions, and the imperial court had not yet dispatched troops to defend them. As for the smaller local factions, they were also fragmented and unable to achieve any significant power. Early in his life, Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou, led Lü Bu and the province's elite troops to Luoyang and never returned. Since then, Bingzhou has been leaderless. While the local military leaders held sway, none could truly command the situation and resist the foreign invaders.
Coupled with the annual invasions by foreign tribes, the people of Bingzhou and officials at all levels suffered immensely. Ma Chao's fame as a formidable warrior against the foreign invaders had spread far and wide. They envied the people of Xiliang, who had a powerful general like Ma Chao at their helm, ensuring they could swiftly annihilate the enemy even when invaded, sparing them the ravages of war. Now, this powerful general had finally arrived in Bingzhou, and the people were ecstatic.
During Ma Chao's pursuit of the Xiongnu, the common people and officials everywhere he went actively cooperated. Whenever he arrived at a county, the city gates were opened wide, and the people showed their loyalty to Ma Chao with the ceremony of welcoming the king's army.
The situation changed dramatically after Yuan Shao's army retreated. Ma Chao acted decisively, ordering Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan to annihilate the Xiongnu completely, requesting they march from Hedong to join him in completely annihilating the Xiongnu. Ma Chao had previously successfully captured Yanmen Commandery, and on the advice of his advisor Xu Shu, he dispatched Pang De to lead a large force to secure Yanmen Pass. The Xiongnu, plundering Bingzhou to no avail, were forced to gradually shrink their defenses as Ma Chao's army pressed forward, leaving Yanmen Pass as their only escape route.
In reality, Ma Chao had already essentially taken control of all the counties of Bingzhou, trapping the Xiongnu in Yanmen County like a turtle in a jar. Since taking Yanmen Pass, Ma Chao had been tightening his belt, gradually narrowing the encirclement. This encirclement was like an ambush from all sides, and the Xiongnu Huchuquan and Midang would have been unable to escape even if they had wings.
Upon receiving Ma Chao's order, Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan readily accepted. Gongsun Zan had campaigned in the Central Plains for many years, though he had achieved few tangible victories and suffered numerous defeats. However, he was renowned for his prowess against foreign invaders. The White Horse Volunteers he led were awe-inspiring, intimidating warriors. For years, Gongsun Zan had harbored a deep resentment, but upon hearing of the opportunity to participate in the campaign to annihilate the Xiongnu, he accepted the order without hesitation.
At this point, the Xiongnu were trapped within Yanmen County. Ma Chao personally led the central army in a defensive formation in the west, responsible for encircling and blocking the Xiongnu. Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong led the main force to set up camp in the south, blocking the Xiongnu's escape route. Meanwhile, Xu Huang and Zhang Liao had already led their elite troops to the east, forming a closed encirclement. These three forces, like three tightly-knit nets, were gradually drawing the Xiongnu towards the core of Yanmen County.
After the Xiongnu suffered a crushing defeat, Huochuquan led the remnants of his army to join the Xianbei King Kebi Neng. At the time, the Xiongnu had been scattered and severely weakened. Under Kebi Neng's command, Huochuquan painstakingly gathered the remnants, and over time, they gradually recovered some of their strength.
Huochuquan's invasion of Bingzhou was a desperate gamble. Since the Xiongnu lacked a permanent territory, their stay at Kebi Neng's was difficult. Coincidentally, Kebi Neng was planning a major invasion of the Han Dynasty. Huochuquan led all his capable troops, hoping to seize this opportunity to restore the Xiongnu's former glory. Furthermore, Kebi Neng had promised him that if the operation yielded any gains, he would not take a penny, considering them as capital for the Xiongnu's resurgence and that he would then redistribute their territory. How could Huochuquan resist such an allure? So, he personally led 65,000 Xiongnu cavalry into Bingzhou.
Upon entering Bingzhou, despite the fierce defenses of the local garrisons, the cities barely held out against the swift onslaught of the Xiongnu cavalry. The countryside, however, was defenseless, leaving the Xiongnu free to roam. Huochequan plundered, murdered, and looted with impunity, seemingly reminiscent of the Xiongnu's heyday. He felt a growing conviction that he could restore the Xiongnu's glory and recreate its splendor in the name of the Great Khan.
Among the numerous resistance forces, only a young general named Qian Zhao posed any threat. Despite his youth, Qian Zhao possessed considerable strategic prowess, and his improvised force was able to hold its own against the Xiongnu. It wasn't until Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan attacked from both sides that the Xiongnu army suffered heavy losses and was forced to withdraw from Hedong County.
But Huochuquan never imagined the Xianbei army would be defeated so quickly. Previously, he had been so preoccupied with burning, looting, and pillaging that he was completely oblivious to the impending crisis. It wasn't until Ma Chao, leading the Xiliang army, appeared before him like a divine force descending from the sky that he saw once again the man who had made him grit his teeth in his dreams and wished to kill him immediately.
Since then, the Xiongnu army has been plagued by repeated defeats. Ma Chao's Western Liang cavalry are incredibly brave and their tactics are sophisticated, leaving Huochequan completely powerless to resist. They have been defeated and are now forced back to Yanmen Commandery.
On a rolling hillside in Yanmen County, the Xiongnu camps were densely packed, seemingly devoid of their former majesty and vitality. Inside the Great Khan's golden tent, where Huo Qubing was stationed, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. Huo Qubing's face was gloomy as he listened to his subordinates report on casualties.
"Khan, we only have 35,000 warriors left now. I'm afraid the other brothers have encountered their enemies..." The subordinate's voice was trembling a little, and it was particularly clear in the silent tent.
Upon hearing this, Huochequan's eyes widened with rage, as if spitting fire. He slammed the wine glass in his hand to the ground with a crisp "bang", and the glass instantly shattered into pieces. He roared loudly: "Ma Chao! Ma Chao! I, Huochequan, will not be a human being until I have my revenge!" The roar was filled with anger and unwillingness, as if he wanted to vent all the hatred in his heart.
Midang Chanyu, standing nearby, was also filled with sorrow, sighing. He was truly unlucky. After the Eastern Qiang were defeated, he led the remnants of his army to join Huo Qubing. Back then, he had over ten thousand soldiers, but now he had less than five thousand. Midang couldn't help but advise, "Great Khan, now is not the time to act rashly."
Huochuquan panted heavily and paced rapidly back and forth in the tent. Each step seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force. He gritted his teeth and said, "Think about it, we Xiongnu have roamed the grasslands for many years, and have never suffered such humiliation!!"
Mi Dang cried out again in pain: "King, Khan!" His voice was full of anxiety and helplessness. He tried to make Huochequan wake up as soon as possible and face the desperate situation before him.
Finally, Huochequan forced himself to calm down. A glint of determination flashed in his eyes as he said, "Quickly evacuate towards Yanmen Pass! As long as we escape Yanmen Pass, we will be back on the grasslands. No matter how powerful Ma Chao is, he will be helpless against us by then."
At this moment, a Xiongnu spy hurried into the tent in a panic. He knelt on one knee with a thud and said in a trembling voice, "Great Khan, this is bad! The enemy is tightening their encirclement again!"
Huochuquan was flustered upon hearing this. He lost his previous stubbornness and shouted hurriedly, "Hurry, hurry, hurry! Inform all the troops to break out of Yanmen Pass as soon as possible! It will be too late if we are late!"
As Huochequan's order was issued, the entire Xiongnu camp instantly fell into chaos. The soldiers hurriedly packed their bags, unleashed their horses, and prepared to fight their way out of the encirclement towards Yanmen Pass. However, the combined forces of the Western Liang army led by Ma Chao, the forces of Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong, and Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, and others formed an impenetrable encirclement, making a breakout difficult for the Xiongnu.
Inside the Xiliang army's central tent, flickering candlelight illuminated the figures of Ma Chao, Xu Shu, and the others. Ma Chao stood before a map, his expression solemn yet revealing a certain determination, as he discussed war plans with Xu Shu and his advisors.
Ma Chao pointed to the position of the Huns on the map and said, "The Huns are now trapped like a turtle in a jar, surrounded by enemies. Their only way out is to flee to Yanmen Pass. You must immediately tell Xu Rong, Gongsun Zan, Xu Huang and Zhang Liao to tighten the encirclement and never let the Huns break through the defense line and force them to Yanmen Pass. This time, we must win a great victory and annihilate the Huns!" Ma Chao's voice was firm and powerful, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.
Xu Shu nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, General. Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong's troops, as well as Zhang Liao and Xu Huang's troops, have all received news. They are steadily advancing the encirclement."
Ma Chao nodded with satisfaction after hearing this. He placed his finger on the map again and said, "Hu Che'er, Hu Chi'er!"
"I'm here!" The brothers Hu Che'er and Hu Chi'er answered in unison, walked out from one side of the tent and knelt on one knee.
Ma Chao looked at them and said seriously, "You two brothers, go to Gongsun Zan and Xu Rong's troops, and Zhang Liao and Xu Huang's troops respectively, to deliver the military order. Tell them that the decisive battle will take place at Yanmen Pass. You must complete the encirclement within three days and annihilate the Xiongnu at Yanmen Pass in one fell swoop."
"Yes! I will definitely live up to my mission!" After receiving the order, Hu Che'er and Hu Chi'er quickly stood up, turned around and walked out of the tent.
The brothers Hu Che'er and Hu Chi'er were truly the treasures of the Western Liang army. Possessed with extraordinary abilities, they were not only incredibly agile but also incredibly familiar with the terrain, navigating these towering mountains with ease. They relayed military orders with a speed exceeding that of a horse. It was precisely because of this that they were able to accurately convey orders and report positions in fierce battles, never missing a single opportunity, and making countless contributions to the Western Liang army.
After Hu Che'er and his brothers left, Ma Chao addressed the other generals, "This decisive battle is of grave importance. If the Xiongnu break through, they will surely return, and the people of Bingzhou will suffer the consequences of war once again. You must all be extremely vigilant and closely monitor the enemy's movements. Report any developments immediately."
All the generals responded in unison: "We will obey the general's orders!"
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