Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After receiving Ma Chao's order, the various armies were like hearing a clarion call to charge, their morale soaring, and they all advanced rapidly. After all, since Ma Chao had clearly stated that a decisive battle with the Xiongnu would take place at Yanmen Pass within three days, the soldiers were afraid of being late and missing this rare opportunity to make military achievements.

Xu Rong and Gongsun Zan immediately marshaled their troops. With a single command, the army surged forward in their designated direction, like a tiger descending a mountain. Mounted on horseback, spear in hand, Xu Rong shouted, "Brothers, hasten! If we can completely annihilate the Xiongnu this time, it will be a great achievement. Charge!" Gongsun Zan, wielding his whip, encouraged his White Horse Volunteers: "Think back then, our White Horse Volunteers were so powerful. Today, we will show the Xiongnu how powerful we are. Follow me!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their steps firm, and they advanced rapidly toward the shrinking encirclement.

Elsewhere, Xu Huang and Zhang Liao were equally fearless. Zhang Liao, his expression grim, addressed his men, "The general has ordered us to complete the encirclement on time. Brothers, work hard! Don't let the other tribes outshine us." Xu Huang, brandishing his axe, declared, "Right! Now is the time to achieve our goal! Follow us!" The troops they led moved swiftly towards their designated position like a black torrent, raising clouds of dust in their wake.

As the various divisions advanced at a rapid pace, the encirclement gradually shrank like an iron barrel. The Xiongnu felt as if they were trapped in a net that was tightening ever more tightly, a growing sense of oppression that seemed to follow them everywhere, making it difficult for them to breathe. They hardly dared to rest for even a moment. The moment they paused, their spies would urgently report that the enemy was hot on their heels, leaving them no chance to set up camp. Any pause would risk a nighttime attack by the Han army, a constant source of unrest.

With no other options, the Xiongnu could only continue their charge. Fortunately, having grown up on horseback, they had already mastered the skill of sleeping even while sitting. Their desperate escape took only two days and one night, finally reaching Yanmen Pass by dusk on the second day.

Huochuquan gazed at the towering walls of Yanmen Pass, a mixture of emotions welling up in his heart. He knew that if he could break through this barrier, he could return to the grasslands and secure a glimmer of hope. So, he quickly ordered everyone to rest, eat, and drink, and then prepare to storm Yanmen Pass. After all, they had encountered little resistance the previous time they entered, which gave Huochuquan the feeling that this time, too, would be a straightforward undertaking.

However, Huochuquan never imagined that the one guarding Yanmen Pass was none other than Pang De, a soldier under Ma Chao, renowned for his bravery and perseverance. Pang De had been gathering his strength and preparing for battle. As the Xiongnu surged towards Yanmen Pass, they were met with a rain of arrows, boulders, and logs from Pang De's troops.

The Xiongnu soldiers shouted and rushed towards the city gate, but were repeatedly repelled by the dense defenses on the city wall. Pang De, wearing armor, stood on the city wall and shouted to encourage morale: "Brothers, defend Yanmen Pass and make sure these Xiongnu barbarians never return!" Inspired by Pang De, the soldiers were full of fighting spirit and fought to the death.

Huochequan, looking at the long-standing impasse over Yanmen Pass, was terribly anxious. He personally rode to the front, brandishing his long sword and roaring, "Charge! Break through Yanmen Pass and you'll be richly rewarded!" Forced by Huochequan, the Xiongnu soldiers launched another frantic charge. However, Pang De's troops were well-defended, and every advance came at a heavy price.

For a moment, the shouts of killing shook the heavens in front of Yanmen Pass, and the ground was dyed red with blood. Although the Xiongnu were brave, they were unable to break through this solid line of defense due to Pang De's stubborn resistance.

The battle to capture the pass had already lasted until midnight. The area in front of Yanmen Pass was brightly lit, with blazing torches illuminating the battlefield like daylight. Shouts and screams mingled, filling the air with a thick, bloody atmosphere.

Huochequan, like a madman, tireless, continued to shout at the top of his lungs, urging his troops to assault the city with their physical strength. Mi Dang, covered in blood, finally squeezed his way to Huochequan's side and anxiously advised, "Great Khan! We can't attack anymore! If we continue like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to break through until dawn. We've already lost 8,000 men in this attack! They're holding on with their fortified city walls and sharp arrows. If we attack like this, the losses will be too great!"

Huochequan's eyes were red as he shouted angrily, "If we don't break through Yanmen Pass, how can we escape? Keep killing!"

Mi Dang looked at Huo Qubing, his heart burning with worry. He continued to plead, "Great Khan! This will only lead to more casualties! If we really can't do anything, let's break out. How can we possibly take down such a fortified pass?"

Huochuquan was struck by Mi Dang's words and forced himself to calm down from his frenzy. He looked at the corpses strewn across the field and the still impregnable Yanmen Pass, and knew that Mi Dang's words were true. Continuing the attack would only lead to their own deaths.

"Sound the horn and retreat!" Huochequan gritted his teeth and gave the order with difficulty. Then he turned to look at Midang and asked, "You said you are confident of breaking through?"

Mi Dang said quickly, "Great Khan, we are a people from the grasslands, not good at sieges. We'd better break out. With the speed of our cavalry, we may have a chance of survival. To the west is the killer Ma Chao, whose Xiliang cavalry is extremely brave. If we flee to the west, we will undoubtedly seek death. We must not go there. And to the rear is Gongsun Zan, known as the White Horse General, and his White Horse Volunteers are also extremely brave. Breaking out from the rear will also be difficult."

Huochuquan frowned, listening to Midang's analysis with great anxiety. He asked, "Then, in your opinion, what should we do?"

Mi Dang pointed his hand to the east and said, "Khan, we have never heard of the Han generals who are besieging us in the east. I think their strength may be weaker than Ma Chao and Gongsun Zan. Now the situation is urgent, and breaking out from the east may be our only chance." They have lived in the grassland for a long time, and their understanding of the Central Plains generals is limited to Ma Chao and Gongsun Zan.

Huochuquan pondered for a moment, convinced that what Mi Dang said made sense. After weighing the pros and cons, he realized there was no better option but to pin his hopes on a breakout from the east. "Okay, as you say. Pass the order down. All units, prepare to break out with all your might to the east. Tell the brothers, success or failure depends on this one move. If we fight our way out, we can return to the grasslands!" Huochuquan shouted his orders, his voice echoing into the night.

When the Xiongnu soldiers heard they were being forced to break out to the east, they were still filled with fear, but their desire to survive made them act quickly. They all jumped on their horses, gripped their weapons tightly, and prepared to fight to the death.

However, Huochuquan and Midang Chanyu were unaware that the eastern siege was being led by Zhang Liao and Xu Huang. Both were renowned generals under Ma Chao, known for their skill and ability. Zhang Liao excelled in surprise attacks and commanding cavalry, employing a variety of tactics. Xu Huang, on the other hand, was known for his exceptional bravery and meticulous discipline, leading a disciplined and highly effective force.

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang were leading their troops on a rapid march through the night. The clatter of horse hooves echoed far into the stillness. Zhang Liao glanced up at the sky, then back at Xu Huang. With a hint of anxiety, he asked, "Gongming, how long until we're at Yanmen Pass? The general needs to reach Yanmen Pass within three days, and tomorrow morning is already the deadline. It's better to hurry sooner rather than later. We absolutely cannot delay the general's plan."

Xu Huang rode forward, speaking calmly, "Don't worry, Wenyuan. We've made no delays along the way. The soldiers haven't rested at all, precisely to catch up with the general's strategic deployment. This place is close to Yanmen Pass, and we estimate we'll arrive by early morning."

Zhang Liao nodded slightly, his tense expression easing slightly as he spoke, "That's good. This mission is of great importance. General, you must completely annihilate the Xiongnu. We can't let them down. The Xiongnu are desperate and will definitely try every possible way to break through. If we arrive early, we can discuss with you how to deploy our defenses and ensure their annihilation."

Xu Huang's eyes were determined, and he gripped the reins tightly. He said, "That's right. Not only must we arrive on time, but we must also help the general set up a defensive line and not let a single Xiongnu escape from under our noses."

On the battlefield shrouded in darkness, both sides raced against time. At the end of the first hour, the scouts from both sides, like ghosts in the darkness, clashed head-on. In an instant, swords flashed and the scout teams engaged in a fierce battle. After a fierce battle, several casualties were suffered on both sides. But the scouts, fully aware of their mission, realized their whereabouts had been exposed, and without further entanglement, each wounded, hurried back to report the enemy situation.

Xu Huang and Zhang Liao were on the march when a scout, wounded and bleeding, came rushing over. He knelt on one knee and reported urgently, "General, enemy scouts have been spotted ahead!"

Zhang Liao was startled upon hearing this and immediately analyzed, "Gongming, they should be attacking Yanmen Pass with all their might right now. However, we're still two or three hours away from Yanmen Pass, and yet we've spotted their scouts here. I'm afraid they've been blocked at Yanmen Pass and are planning to break out towards us."

Xu Huang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said excitedly, "Just in time! My axe has been thirsty for a long time!"

Zhang Liao, however, looked grave, and quickly gave the order: "Order the entire army to immediately build fortifications and hold the Xiongnu at bay. Daybreak is only two hours away, and the general's army will surely arrive soon. We must keep a close watch on them from here and not let them advance a single step!"

The order was as strong as a mountain, and the soldiers sprang into action. Some busied themselves felling trees and setting up barricades; others dug trenches and laid traps; others quickly erected simple defensive barriers. In the darkness, only the heavy breathing and the sounds of labor could be heard.

Meanwhile, Huchuquan, the Xiongnu leader, received word from his scouts that they had encountered Han scouts. His face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, sternly declaring, "It seems the Han army has sensed our presence and is closing in. Without further delay, order the entire army to charge immediately and break through the Han defenses. Don't wait for them to deploy. Our survival depends on this moment!"

After receiving the order, Midang swiftly galloped off, relaying Huochuquan's command to each unit. Suddenly, horns blared within the Xiongnu ranks, bringing the already tense atmosphere to a crescendo. The Xiongnu cavalrymen gripped their scimitars tightly, their eyes gleaming with determination and madness.

At the command, the Xiongnu army surged like a black torrent towards the eastern defenses of Zhang Liao and Xu Huang. The sound of horse hooves was like thunder, shaking the earth slightly. In the moonlight, the Xiongnu cavalrymen looked particularly ferocious.