Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The Xiongnu fled in panic for an hour. By then, daylight had already risen, its bright sunlight pouring down unreservedly on the chaotic landscape. They wandered aimlessly, their only thought being to escape the Han army's pursuit.

As he ran, a scout from the front came galloping up, his face filled with terror, and he reported loudly: "Great Khan, a large number of Han troops have been spotted ahead!" Huo Qubing clutched his wound tightly, blood oozing through his fingers. His eyes turned red with anger and despair, and he gritted his teeth and roared: "Break out to the south! Break out to the south! We can't care about anything else now!"

The Xiongnu army quickly turned south. After about half an hour, a scout from the front came running over like a frightened bird, reporting in a trembling voice, "Great Khan, we see the enemy ahead!" Mi Dang, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, "Then head north! Head north!"

Huochequan laughed miserably, his voice full of sadness and helplessness: "To the north? To the north is Yanmen Pass! I'm afraid we are really going to die here..." Mi Dang was extremely anxious and shouted: "Let's go! Let's go north first. The longer we can hide, the better!"

At this moment, the sound of the Han army's hooves came from the rear like rolling thunder, and the sound was getting closer and closer, like the footsteps of death, approaching step by step. Huochuquan had no other choice but to order his horse to head north again, galloping towards Yanmen Pass.

The Xiongnu soldiers were all terrified and exhausted, but under the threat of death, they had no choice but to whip their whips desperately, urging their horses to speed up. Along the way, dust flew, the sound of horses' hooves and shouts intertwined, and the whole team was in chaos.

At Yanmen Pass, Pang De saw the Huns coming from afar. His expression immediately froze, and he shouted, "Brothers, the Huns are coming! Prepare for battle!" The soldiers quickly took their positions, and the crossbowmen nocked their arrows, ready for battle. Defensive equipment such as chevaux de frise, rolling stones, and wooden planks were also ready, waiting for the Huns to enter range.

Behind them, Gongsun Zan's army pursued them relentlessly like a surging tide, the dust raised by their horses' hooves obscuring the sky. Elsewhere, the troops led by Zhang Liao and Xu Huang had quickly arrived to the east, joining Gongsun Zan's distant forces. Ma Chao himself, led by a large force, also arrived at lightning speed. Like three iron fists, the three armies gradually closed in, forming an impenetrable iron barrel, gradually squeezing the Xiongnu towards Yanmen Pass.

Huochuquan, perched on his horse, gazed upon the encirclement, a net-like net closing in, his heart filled with despair. His eyes were hollow, as if he saw the Xiongnu's impending demise. His wounds still ached, but compared to the despair within him, the pain seemed insignificant.

Mi Dang's face was equally as pale as death. As he watched the encirclement gradually shrink, an idea emerged in his mind. He turned to look at Huo Qubing and said hesitantly, "Great Khan, given the current situation, it seems we have no way out. How about... surrendering, showing our obedience, and perhaps there is still a chance of survival."

Upon hearing this, Huochequan snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain and sadness. He said, "Don't be delusional! Ma Chao has always been ruthless towards foreigners. Even if we surrender, we will be dead in his hands. How could he let us Xiongnu go so easily? Consider the crimes we committed in Bingzhou before. He will definitely not let us live."

After hearing Huochuquan's words, Midang's heart sank, knowing that what Huochuquan said was true. But he was unwilling to just sit there and wait for death. He clenched his sword tightly, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and said, "Khan, let's fight them! Even if we die, we will die like a Xiongnu warrior!"

Huochequan nodded slightly, a glimmer of fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes. He brandished his weapon and shouted, "My men! We have no way to retreat. Rather than dying in the hands of the Han people, we must fight to the death! Let them know that we, the Xiongnu warriors, will never surrender!"

After hearing Huochuquan's words, the Xiongnu soldiers' originally low morale suddenly lifted. They gripped their weapons tightly, roared, and prepared for a final desperate fight.

On the Han side, Ma Chao watched the Xiongnu, who were gradually being forced into a corner, his expression grim. He addressed the generals beside him, "The Xiongnu are like cornered beasts, fighting to the death. Everyone must be careful. But we must not show mercy. We must annihilate them here and seek justice for the people of Bingzhou!" The generals responded in unison, "We will obey your orders, General!"

Gongsun Zan looked at the Xiongnu, his lips curled up slightly as he said, "These Xiongnu thieves will die today. I, the White Horse Volunteers, will show them how powerful we are!"

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang also reorganized their troops and prepared for the final battle. Zhang Liao said, "Gongming, in this final battle, we must not let down our guard. We must help the general achieve a resounding victory." Xu Huang nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Don't worry, Wenyuan. Watch me capture Huochuquan today!"

Huochequan slowly turned his head, gazing at the towering Yanmen Pass, so close it was almost within range. The walls shone with a chilling murderous intent. Looking around, he saw the Han army, a massive, black mass, surrounding them like a tidal wave. A wave of sadness welled up in his heart, his thoughts drifting back to the days when the Xiongnu roamed the steppes in all their might. Could it be that the once-dominant Xiongnu were now facing utter annihilation here?

He looked up to the sky and roared, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Eternal Heaven, please point a way out for my men!" After shouting, a look of determination flashed in his eyes. He suddenly drew out the scimitar from his waist and shouted: "My men, follow me! Perhaps dying in battle means returning to the arms of Eternal Heaven!" After that, he squeezed his legs against the horse's belly and rushed out like an arrow.

The Xiongnu cavalry behind him, inspired by Huochequan's aura, followed suit, shouting the name "Eternal Heaven," brandishing their scimitars, their eyes burning with a final madness and determination as they charged after him. Those cries seemed like their final struggle against fate.

The Han generals on all three sides had long coveted this impending victory. Seeing the Xiongnu charging recklessly, their eyes lit up with bloodlust. Gongsun Zan shouted, "White Horse Volunteers, follow me and kill the enemy!" Zhang Liao also shouted, "Brothers, charge! This is the time to achieve great things!" Xu Huang, brandishing his axe, roared, "Let the Xiongnu know how powerful we are!"

At the command of their generals, the Han army charged the Xiongnu like a tiger descending from a mountain. For a moment, the cries of battle, the neighing of horses, and the clashing of weapons intertwined, resounding through the heavens and earth. Soldiers on both sides, determined to fight to the death, engaged in a thrilling, life-or-death struggle.

On the battlefield, swords flashed and blood splattered. The Xiongnu cavalry, fearless of death, relied on their superb horsemanship and tenacious fighting spirit to engage in close combat with the Han army. However, the Han army was outnumbered and well-trained, and the two sides were stuck in a stalemate.

Huochequan rushed left and right amidst the chaos, trying to carve out a bloody path. He had been wounded in many places, but he seemed to feel no pain, just wielding his sword blindly, continuously hacking at the Han soldiers around him. His eyes were filled with madness, and he kept shouting, "Kill!"

Gongsun Zan led his White Horse Volunteers, charging into the Xiongnu ranks like a white whirlwind. Their white horses gleamed in the sunlight, and the soldiers, armed with long spears, delivered deadly blows. Zhang Liao and Xu Huang also led their own troops, engaging in fierce combat with the Xiongnu. Zhang Liao's swordsmanship was razor-sharp, each strike capable of taking the life of a Xiongnu soldier; Xu Huang's axe was even more powerful, sending Xiongnu soldiers screaming and falling with each blow.

At Yanmen Pass, Pang De also closely observed the battle. Seeing the Han army and the Xiongnu locked in a fierce battle, he thought to himself, "Now is the perfect time to attack. We must not give the Xiongnu a chance to catch their breath." So, he decisively ordered, "Open the gates! Attack!" As the gates slowly swung open, Pang De, leading the Yanmen Pass defenders, charged into the battlefield like a tiger out of its cage.

The remaining Xiongnu army, perhaps fewer than 20,000, or perhaps slightly more, was completely surrounded by the Han army. After days of fleeing and fighting, these Xiongnu soldiers were exhausted, their eyes filled with numbness and despair. They watched helplessly as their comrades fell one by one to the swords and spears of the Han army, but could only mechanically brandish their weapons in a final resistance.

The entire battlefield was filled with a thick, bloody atmosphere, the clang of weapons clashing, and the roars of soldiers from both sides. Shockingly, not a single Xiongnu soldier chose to surrender; they remained steadfast in their dignity and courage despite the desperate situation.

Ma Chao, however, had no intention of accepting the Xiongnu's surrender from the outset. Astride his towering horse, he watched the ferocious battle with a stern expression, his gaze like an eagle. In his view, the Xiongnu had committed countless crimes in Bingzhou, including burning, killing, and looting, and they must pay a heavy price.

As the battle dragged on, Xiongnu soldiers continued to fall, their blood staining the ground red. Huochuquan and Midang's warriors dwindled, yet even in this desperate situation, they fought on with all their might. Huochuquan's face was splattered with blood, unsure whether it was his own or the enemy's. His broadsword had long since bent, but he continued to slash at the Han army recklessly. Midang, unflinching, despite the wounds covering his body, wielded his longsword, attempting to carve a path for himself and his people.

The battle was drawing to a close. The battlefield was filled with a sickening stench of blood, and corpses lay scattered across the landscape. The blood flowed like streams, winding across the land. Xu Huang and Zhang Liao, valiant as gods of war amidst the chaos, seized their opportunity, combined their swords, and attacked Mi Dang. Despite his desperate resistance, Mi Dang was ultimately no match for their fierce attack. After a fierce struggle, Xu Huang's axe struck Mi Dang hard, and Zhang Liao followed suit with a blow. Mi Dang screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground, dead.

Meanwhile, under the pressure of Gongsun Zan, Yan Gang, and Pang De, Huochequan was already at the end of his rope. His body was covered in wounds, bleeding profusely, and his strength was nearly exhausted. Facing the ferocious Han army, he had no chance to fight back. The Han soldiers rushed forward, attempting to take him away.