Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

Your death is coming! " After saying this, he waved his hand, and the Xiongnu guards around him pounced on Baili Xi and others like vicious wolves.

Baili Xi's gaze burned brightly, unafraid. He swung his long sword across the face of the foremost Xiongnu guards. His form flashed, his sword gleaming with icy glints, each strike imbued with immense force. Before the guard could even reach him, Baili Xi slashed his arm, sending him shrieking and falling to the ground. The other guards, unwilling to be outdone, engaged in a chaotic battle with the Xiongnu guards. The cramped tower's confines was filled with the mingling of shouts and the clash of weapons.

The fourth prince Li Jing also noticed Baili Xi's move to the tower at this time. He knew the importance of the tower very well, so he left some soldiers to continue to clear out the remaining Huns forces in the stronghold, and led a team of elite soldiers to quickly support the tower.

Inside the tower, the battle intensified. Baili Xi and the Xiongnu general gradually reached a stalemate, each side searching for the other's weakness. The Xiongnu general's agility and uncanny swordsmanship aimed each strike directly at Baili Xi's vital points. Baili Xi, relying on his profound internal strength and rich combat experience, responded calmly, each block and counterattack perfectly timed.

Suddenly, a Xiongnu guard seized the opportunity and attacked Baili Xi from behind. In this critical moment, a soldier, with quick eyes and hands, leaped towards the attacking Xiongnu guard, blocking the fatal blow with his own body, and at the same time stabbed the Xiongnu guard's chest with his dagger. Seeing this, Baili Xi felt a pang of pain in his heart and was filled with anger. He shouted and swung his long sword with all his might, using the move "Sweeping the Enemy" to force back several Xiongnu guards in front of him. Taking advantage of the Xiongnu general's momentary hesitation, Baili Xi flashed and approached like a ghost, piercing the Xiongnu general's throat with his long sword. The Xiongnu general was unable to avoid the attack and was stabbed by the long sword. Blood gushed out, and he slowly fell to the ground with his eyes wide open in dismay.

With the fall of the Xiongnu general, the remaining Xiongnu soldiers in the tower were thrown into disarray. Baili Xi shouted, "The Xiongnu are defeated, why don't you surrender?" Seeing this, some Xiongnu soldiers dropped their weapons and knelt in surrender. Those who stubbornly resisted were quickly eliminated by Baili Xi and his personal guards.

At that moment, reinforcements led by Li Jing also arrived at the tower. Seeing Baili Xi safe and sound and having successfully taken the tower, Li Jing was overjoyed: "General Baili, well done! Once the tower is broken, the Xiongnu will undoubtedly be defeated!" The two men smiled at each other and then led their soldiers out of the tower.

By this time, the battle within the stronghold was drawing to a close. Without their commanders, the Xiongnu soldiers, like headless flies, gradually lost their ability to resist under the fierce attacks of the Daqian army. The Daqian soldiers, with high morale, pursued the victorious attack, annihilating the remaining Xiongnu soldiers one by one.

The sky was turning pale. After a night of fierce fighting, the Daqian army had finally conquered the Xiongnu's hidden stronghold. As the smoke of gunpowder gradually cleared from the battlefield, the Daqian soldiers cheered and celebrated this hard-earned victory. Baili Xi gazed at the cheering soldiers, feeling a surge of emotion. While this battle was a victory, it came at a heavy price, with many young lives lost forever on this land.

Li Jing walked over to Baili Xi and patted him on the shoulder. "General Baili, this battle was won thanks to your wise command. Having a general like you in our front is a blessing to the people and the country!" Baili Xi shook his head slightly. "Your Highness, you are too kind. This is the result of the bloody battles fought by all the soldiers. Next, we must properly handle the follow-up matters, comfort the injured soldiers, and be vigilant against the Xiongnu counterattack."

The Daqian army began clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded within their stronghold. The soldiers neatly arranged the bodies of their fallen comrades, their eyes filled with grief and respect. They held a simple yet solemn funeral for these heroically fallen comrades, burying them on the land for which they had fought so bravely.

At the same time, Baili Xi and Li Jing dispatched multiple scouts to closely monitor the Xiongnu's movements, in case they returned. After an inventory, it was found that while the Daqian army had successfully destroyed the Xiongnu stronghold, they had also suffered heavy casualties, with many soldiers seriously injured and in urgent need of proper treatment and recuperation.

After dealing with the battlefield, Baili Xi and Li Jing decided to rest briefly in their stronghold while relaying the news of their victory back to the capital of Daqian. The messenger galloped to the capital, bearing the news of victory day and night.

As for the Xiongnu, this disastrous defeat at their secret stronghold had severely damaged their vitality. Upon hearing the news, the Xiongnu Chanyu was furious and vowed to exact even greater revenge on Daqian. He summoned his generals to discuss regrouping their forces and attacking the Daqian border.

Inside the capital of Daqian, the Emperor was overjoyed when he received the news of Baili Xi and Li Jing's victory. Congratulations poured in from the entire court, and the Emperor issued a commendation for Baili Xi, Li Jing, and all the soldiers who participated in the battle. Furthermore, to prepare for possible retaliation from the Xiongnu, the Emperor immediately convened a meeting with his ministers to discuss strategies for strengthening border defenses.

The Minister of Revenue spoke first: "Your Majesty, although we have won this time, the border defense has suffered huge losses, and a large amount of silver must be allocated to repair fortifications and replenish armaments. I estimate that at least one million taels of silver will be needed." The emperor frowned slightly, knowing that although the treasury had reserves, such a huge expenditure also needed to be considered carefully.

The Minister of Personnel also made a comment, "Your Majesty, the soldiers on the front lines fought bravely. Post-war compensation is extremely important, as it affects the morale of the army and the people. Moreover, many generals have demonstrated outstanding abilities in battle. They should be rewarded and promoted to encourage more soldiers to serve the country."

Emperor Qian nodded in agreement and turned his gaze to the Minister of War. "You have been in charge of military affairs for a long time, so you must have some understanding of the Xiongnu's movements. In your opinion, how should we strengthen border defenses?"

The Minister of War hurried out and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu have suffered such a heavy blow and will surely be eager for revenge. I believe that the most urgent task is to send more elite troops to the border to strengthen the military strength. At the same time, additional beacon towers should be installed at important passes to strengthen intelligence transmission and ensure timely detection of Xiongnu movements. In addition, we can form alliances with neighboring tribes to divide the Xiongnu forces."

Emperor Qian pondered for a moment and said, "You are absolutely right. Pass on my decree to allocate one million taels of silver for border defense and post-war relief. Select five thousand elite troops from the capital garrison and send them to the border immediately. As for the alliance with the surrounding tribes, the diplomatic envoys are to depart immediately to ensure this is accomplished."

Meanwhile, at the Daqian military camp on the border, Baili Xi and Li Jing were busy stabilizing the troops and comforting the wounded. They personally visited each tent to comfort the wounded and encouraged them to recover. Seeing the soldiers' plight, some with broken limbs and others with serious injuries, they were filled with pity.

At this time, a scout hurriedly reported: "General, according to our investigation, the Xiongnu are gathering their forces in a valley a hundred miles away, and they seem to be planning to attack again."

Baili Xi and Li Jing's faces darkened upon hearing the scout's report. They quickly left the tent, gazing at the distant mountain ranges, pondering their strategy.

Li Jing said, "The Xiongnu arrived so quickly, apparently eager to avenge their defeat. We have just fought a great battle, our soldiers are exhausted, and our forces have been depleted. Meeting them head-on is probably not the best strategy."

Baili Xi nodded slightly, his eyes firm. "That's right, but we can't retreat. I'm familiar with the terrain around here. We can use the valleys and dangerous terrain to set up an ambush and take the Xiongnu by surprise."

The two men immediately summoned their generals to discuss a battle plan. Baili Xi pointed to a map and said, "This valley is narrow, with steep peaks on either side. It's a perfect ambush location. We can feign defeat, lure the Xiongnu into the valley, and then cut off their retreat. By attacking them from both sides, we'll surely inflict heavy damage on the enemy."

The generals nodded in agreement, but some expressed concern: "General, the Xiongnu must be well prepared this time. They may not fall for our feigned retreat."

Baili Xi smiled faintly. "We can create some false impressions to give them the impression we have an opportunity. For example, we could deliberately leave some food and supplies in the camp and pretend they're evacuating in a panic. At the same time, we could send out a small group of elite troops to harass the surrounding areas, angering the Xiongnu and drawing them in to pursue us."

After the discussion, the generals took their orders and began to prepare the ambush. The soldiers acted quickly, setting traps and hiding their forces according to the plan.

Meanwhile, the Xiongnu Chanyu, surveying a map in his tent, addressed his generals, "The Daqian army has just fought a major battle and must be weak. We must gather a large force and strike with all our might. We must crush their camp and teach them the consequences of offending the Xiongnu!"

Just as the Xiongnu Chanyu was confidently preparing to attack, a spy arrived with a report: "Chanyu, the frontline troops appear to be evacuating the camp, leaving behind a considerable amount of food and supplies. Furthermore, a small group of enemy troops is lurking near us, constantly provoking us."

The Xiongnu Chanyu sneered, "It seems the Great Front Army is frightened and trying to flee. This small group of enemies must be their rearguard. Pass the order, give chase with all your forces, and make sure they are completely wiped out!"

Chapter 16: Valley Ambush

Like a tide, the Xiongnu army pursued the Daqian army in the direction of their feigned retreat. Along the way, they saw abandoned provisions and weapons, further convincing them that the enemy had fled in panic. The Xiongnu Chanyu, perched on his horse, triumphantly declared to his generals, "The Daqian army is vulnerable. This time, we will surely triumph and reclaim all we have lost!"

Soon, the Xiongnu army reached the valley where Baili Xi had set an ambush. A scout ahead reported, "Khan Yu, the advance troops are just ahead of the valley and appear to be reorganizing their forces." Without hesitation, the Xiongnu Chanyu ordered, "Advance quickly! Don't give them a chance to catch their breath!"

The Xiongnu army rushed into the valley without any warning. The valley was silent except for the sound of horses' hooves. Suddenly, a sharp horn sound broke the silence.