The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

That night, Meng Yi and Ying Bu rode back to the interior at full speed.

At midnight, Meng Yi came to Meng Tian's tent and saw the lights on inside, so he knew that Meng Tian was waiting for him to return.

Meng Yi walked into the tent and said, "Brother, I'm glad I've fulfilled my mission. King Tuan has agreed to cooperate. We'll pretend to ally with the Xiongnu to buy them time to move south. Then we'll lure them into an ambush and attack them from both east and west. I've sent Han Xin and several others to guard the area. When the Xiongnu spies return to report, we'll be able to find out where they're hiding. But..."

Meng Yi hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Meng Tian asked doubtfully, "Just what?"

Meng Yi showed a sly smile: "Brother, first you have to promise me that you won't get angry and won't hit me."

Meng Tian's heart sank immediately, and he said in a deep voice, "King Tuan agreed so readily. You must have made some promise, right? Don't hide it, just tell me."

Meng Yi stepped back a little and said, "King Tuan has a daughter who is only twenty years old. Her name is Yu Shu and she is as beautiful as a fairy. My elder brother is already thirty years old now, so I will agree to it on his behalf..." Meng Yi's voice became smaller and smaller as he spoke.

When Meng Tian heard the word "Yu Shu," his heart felt like it had been struck by something, and he felt a pang of pain. Coming to his senses, he realized that his good brother had arranged a marriage for him in order to achieve the goal of an alliance. With a wry smile, he said, "If that's the case, why don't you marry her yourself?"

Meng Yi took another step back and chuckled, "Big Brother, you may not know this, but when I was in Pei County, I was already engaged to Lu Su. I will marry her in two years. Su Su and I are deeply in love. I will marry her and love her alone."

Meng Tian said unhappily, "So you decide for me?"

Meng Yi smiled and said, "Don't be angry, big brother. Our parents are no longer with us. You and I are the only two of the direct descendants of the Meng family. Now that you are thirty years old, if our parents were still alive, they would definitely hope that you and I would get married and have children soon. Big brother hasn't married yet, so how can a younger brother get ahead of him? Naturally, I have to worry about him."

Meng Tian shook his head secretly. As he said, "My parents passed away one after another. I have been fighting on the battlefields all over the country and have long been accustomed to being alone. I have never considered marrying and having children to continue the Meng family's bloodline. In this way, I am also unfilial."

Seeing that Meng Tian was not angry, Meng Yi came forward and said, "Brother, this is Yu Shu's portrait and birth date."

Meng Tian took a quick glance and was immediately drawn to the portrait, a sense of familiarity building up within him. He then said, "Well, I'll leave this matter to you."

Meng Yi chuckled and bowed, saying, "I promise to complete the mission. But big brother, you have to leave a token of your gratitude for me."

Meng Tian felt around his body and pulled out an object wrapped in black satin. Meng Yi came closer and looked at it curiously.

Slowly opening it, I found a jade bracelet, which exuded a warm luster, and its delicate texture seemed to reveal the traces of time. The lines on the jade bracelet were delicate and unique, like a masterpiece of nature, each one so smooth and natural.

Meng Tian said, "This is a pair passed down from my mother. I left one for you in Xianyang. My mother said she would find you one day."

Meng Yi held it in his hand and felt its coolness, as if it brought the warmth of a mother, making people feel peaceful and at ease.

Meng Tian said that this jade bracelet is not only an ornament, but also carries his mother's hopes and blessings. Wearing it on his body is like having his mother by his side.

Meng Yi carefully collected it and placed it in his arms, then said, "Brother, you must give me that jade bracelet when we return to Xianyang. Give it to Susu when I get married, just like a mother watching over us."

Meng Tian had just begun to build up some emotion when Meng Yi's words made him burst into laughter. He laughed and scolded, "You haven't even officially returned to your roots yet, and you're already thinking about your family's belongings." Then he added, "It's getting late. Everyone should go to bed first. We'll discuss this with Pang Bo tomorrow."

The next morning, Meng Tian summoned Meng Yi, Pang Bo, and Meng Yuan to the main tent. He looked at them gravely and spoke slowly, "I plan to lead the troops back to Yunzhong today. Pang Bo, you must pay close attention to changes in the surrounding situation and remain vigilant at all times. You must also expedite the construction of this section of the Great Wall to ensure its completion as soon as possible. Furthermore, you must prepare in advance the blueprints and models of the transportation vehicles needed for the wall's construction and deliver them to all the northern passes."

After saying this, Meng Tian turned his gaze to Meng Yi and continued to instruct, "Meng Yi, you will stay here for the time being and pay close attention to the intelligence sent by Tuan. Once you receive any accurate information, you must report back immediately on horseback."

After hearing Meng Tian's order, Pang Bo and Meng Yi bowed solemnly and replied in unison, "Yes, sir!"

The words are divided into two parts.

Han Xin, Li Ziwei and others disguised themselves and took turns guarding outside King Tuan's palace. For several days, there was no sign of the Huns.

Suddenly one afternoon, as the sky gradually darkened, a group of Huns rode out of Tuan Palace and galloped towards the northwest.

Han Xin said to Li Ziwei, "Brother Li, these Xiongnu people are quite clever. They are traveling while it's still dark because they're afraid of being followed. Let's pack up and get ready to go."

Li Ziwei nodded and said, "Brother Han is absolutely right. Let's be careful and not get discovered."

A few people packed their bags and followed quietly.

On the vast grassland, Han Xin and his men followed closely behind the Xiongnu spies. Three or four days of tracking had exhausted them, but their determination remained unwavering.

Han Xin and his companions, dressed in light clothing, moved silently and nimbly through the grass and sand dunes. Their faces, weathered by wind and sun, revealed a steely determination and alertness. The leading scout was experienced, his eyes sharp and focused, constantly monitoring the movements of the Xiongnu spies ahead.

The wind whistled across the grassland, blowing the clothes of Han Xin and his companions as if to encourage them. The sun blazed down on them, soaking their foreheads and backs with sweat. But they had no time to care. They had only one goal in mind: to seize the Xiongnu royal court.

The Xiongnu spies galloped ahead, the sound of their horses' hooves echoing across the grasslands. Tall and mighty, their horsemen skilled in horsemanship, they swept past like a whirlwind. Han Xin and his companions carefully kept their distance, afraid to be discovered.

The road lay desolate, the grasslands withered and yellow, a scene of desolation. The mountains in the distance were sharply defined in the sunlight, like sleeping giants. Occasionally, a few eagles circled in the sky, their sharp gazes seemingly observing everything below.

During this long pursuit, Han Xin and his companions faced numerous difficulties and challenges. They had to endure hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and avoid detection by the Xiongnu. However, their faith kept them going.

Finally, on the evening of the fifth day, Han Xin and his men found an ideal observation point. Hidden behind a hill like cunning rabbits, they watched from afar as the Xiongnu spies entered the camp. There, bonfires were blazing, and the Xiongnu were busy at work.

As night fell, bonfires blazed brightly in the Xiongnu camp, resembling dancing dragons of fire. The flames illuminated the surrounding tents and faces, while also illuminating the vast grasslands and deep night sky in the distance.

From afar, one can see a man in a gorgeous fur robe and a feather crown, his expression solemn and majestic, like a god descending to earth. Surrounding him are a group of people, some sitting, some standing, surrounding him like stars surrounding the moon.

At this time, Li Ziwei said, "Now we need to confirm more closely whether this is indeed the location of the Xiongnu royal court. Brother Han, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."

Han Xin nodded. Following Li Ziwei, he had learned a great deal, gained considerable insights, and deeply experienced the truth that "knowledge gained from books is always shallow." He understood Meng Yi's good intentions in having him follow him. However, compared to Li Ziwei, a professional spy, he was still far behind.

Li Ziwei, nimble and agile like a civet cat, slid into the stables. He bent down, ruffling his hair, and dressed like a horse slave. He held a bundle of soft fodder in his arms, feeding the horses while speaking fluent Xiongnu to the slave beside him, "This barbecue smells so good! I wonder if we'll be lucky enough to get a bite."

The slave beside him didn't see his face clearly, thinking he was a retainer of some noble, and responded with a hint of sarcasm: "Haha, if the Great Chanyu is in a good mood, perhaps he will reward you with a bone to taste."

After the two of them complained for a few words together, the horse slave was suddenly called away by someone sent by his master.

Seeing no one around, Li Ziwei quickly raised his head, confirmed the surroundings were safe, and rushed out of the camp without hesitation. His steps were light and quick, like a gust of wind, and in the blink of an eye he was back on the hill.

"Brother Han, I've confirmed that the Great Khan of the Xiongnu Royal Court is here." Li Ziwei lowered his voice and said to Han Xin seriously, "We shouldn't stay here for long. I'm familiar with the Xiongnu language and can lead people to continue monitoring their movements. You don't speak Xiongnu, and if you're discovered, your identity will be easily exposed. Therefore, please lead Zhao Da back to Yanmen Pass as soon as possible and report the situation here to the young general."

Han Xin knew the situation was urgent, so he didn't refuse. Taking advantage of the darkness, he and Zhao Da left quietly like birds, as if blending into the darkness, and rushed towards Yanmen Pass. They rushed along at lightning speed, not daring to stop for even a moment.